On May 7-10, 2024, employees of the Upper Silesian Branch of PGI-NRI in Sosnowiec stayed in Oviedo, Spain, where they took part in a meeting of REM project partners and the European Coal in Transition workshops: Rising like a phoenix, organised by EURACOAL and the European Research Executive Agency (REA).

Meetings of the international consortium implementing the project entitled Reduction of methane emissions from post mining goafs to minimise their inflow into VAM (REM), co-funded by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) of the European Union and the Ministry of Education and Science, are held periodically, with the aim of discussing and coordinating the work carried out by the project partners, i.e. the Central Mining Institute - NRI (consortium leader), the Oil and Gas Institute - NRI, Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa S.A, National Geological Institute - NRI, Universidad de Oviedo UNIOVI (Spain) and Institutului Naţional de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Securitate Minieră şi Protecţie Antiexplozivă - INSEMEX Petroşani (Romania).

The Polish Geological Institute - NRI was represented by the staff of the Upper Silesian Branch: director dr Janusz Jureczka, Katarzyna Strzemińska, Jerzy Hadro and Grzegorz Suszka. The meeting was held at the headquarters of the Colegio Oficial de Ingenieros de Minas del Noroeste de España.

The results of the work of the tasks carried out by the individual consortium members and the plans for the near future were discussed. On the part of the PGI-NRI, Jerzy Hadro presented the results of the work carried out by the Upper Silesian Branch as part of the task entitled "The role of the PGI-NRI in the development of the Polish economy". Identification of methane accumulation locations in reservoirs for its capture by a reduced methane content installation - less than 30% at JSW ("Pniówek" mine) and Romanian Jiu Valley mine.

PPresentation by Jerzy Hadro of the Upper Silesian Branch of PGI-NRI at the REM project meeting. Photo Janusz Jureczka

Workshop European Coal in Transition: Rising like a phoenix was organised in the historic space of the former Sotón coal mine in San Martín del Rey Aurelio, about 40 km south-east of Oviedo. Coal mining developed in the region from the mid-19th century, with its decline and closure in the 1990s. The 20th century and early 21st century. Following the closure of the mine in 2012, the Centre for Mining History and Memory (CEMM) was established in the mine buildings, and in 2014 several buildings were declared cultural monuments. Today, there is a museum here, including an underground route through ancient galleries, presenting the rich history of mining in Asturias, as well as a conference centre. The International Committee for the Protection of Industrial Heritage ranks Pozo Sotón among the 100 most representative pieces of industrial heritage in Spain. Since 1967, Pozo Sotón has belonged to the state-owned Hulleras del Norte Sociedad Anónima (HUNOSA), host and co-organiser of the workshop.

Pozo Sotón, memorial site. Photo Janusz Jureczka

Pozo Sotón, participants of the conference European Coal in Transition: Rising like a phoenix with PGI-NRI, GIG-NRI, INiG-NRI and JSW S.A.

The aim of the workshop European Coal in Transition: Rising like a phoenix was to promote the activities of the European Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS). Representatives of the European Commission presented the European Union's priorities for coal-related research and a fair transition. In addition, there were two panel discussions, including on the EU regulation on the reduction of methane emissions in the energy sector and the impact of these regulations on the European mining industry.

The second part of the conference discussed the two largest projects funded by recent RFCS competitions - Repurposing a former coal mine: Green hydrogen for the transport sector using the circular economy coupled with the heating sector (MINE-TO-H2) and Reduction of methane emissions from post mining goafs to minimise their inflow into VAM (REM).

Participants at the Playa de Aguilar meeting

Text: Katarzyna Strzemińska