The Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane participated in the technical session titled Pre-mining methane capture from coal deposits in the context of environmental protection and diversification of gas sources for Poland organized by the International Centre of Excellence on Coal Mine Methane (ICE-CMM) in Poland. The event was delivered within the framework of the Gazterm Conference, which was held from 6 to 9 May in Międzyzdroje, Poland.
The session started with a short movie explaining in very simple terms the premises and technology of pre-mine drainage.
It was followed by two speeches delivered by Mr. Lukasz Kroplewski, the President of ICE-CMM in Poland, and Mr. Michal Drabik, the Secretary of the UNECE Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane, that described, respectively, the significance and benefits of engaging in pre-mine drainage activity in Poland, as well as the political, environmental, and social context in which CMM and CBM projects are being currently developed worldwide.
The second part of the session featured three technical presentations delivered by Mr. Janusz Jureczka, a Member of the Board of ICE-CMM in Poland, Mr. Raymond Pilcher, the Chair of the Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane, and Mr. James Marshall, Vice-President of Raven Ridge Resources Inc. While the first presentation provided an overview of the recent Polish experience with pre-mine drainage and described the results of the first phase of the GEO-METHANE Experimental Program run in Gilowice, the two others focused on co-extraction of gas and coal, and on the impact of pre-mine drainage on coal mining.
The event ended with a panel discussion between the session participants, which was moderated by Mr. Piotr Paszko, a Member of the Board of the Lower Silesian Institute for Energy Studies (DISE).