SEP is one of the largest mining conferences in Poland. This year's event is being held under the auspices of the Ministry of State Assets. The conference was opened by Piotr Pyzik, Deputy Minister of State Assets.
- The new face of the power sector must ensure energy sovereignty. Energy sovereignty is the face of a free Poland. I think we are all aware of this - said Piotr Pyzik.
The opening plenary session of the conference was attended by many prominent energy sector specialists and representatives of major mining companies. One of them was Edward Paździorko, JSW's Vice-President of the Management Board for Technical and Operational Matters, who presented the assumptions of JSW's environmental strategy related to utilization of methane.
- Methane is an important element of the environmental and energy strategy at Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa. We intend to increase the efficiency of methane drainage up to 50 percent and the efficiency of economic utilization of captured methane to 95 percent. JSW's Methane Emissions Reduction Program is expected to result in a better structure of methane utilization by its cogeneration sources and improved energy efficiency - said Edward Paździorko, Vice-President of the JSW Management Board for Technical and Operational Matters, emphasizing the strategic importance of coking coal. - On the one hand, it is a raw material included in the European Union's list of critical raw materials, which is an essential raw material for steel smelting, and on the other hand, a regulation is being prepared regarding emission requirements, which the Polish mining industry will not be able to meet - the JSW Vice-President pointed out.
This year's SEP is attended by more than 600 participants. More than 160 papers will be presented in 18 thematic sessions. A number of topics will be discussed, including cyber security, new techniques and technologies in underground mining, environmental problems of mine operation and decommissioning, digital transformation in the industry, good practices in ensuring the stability of roadway excavation, and coal mine methane in Poland - the current state and expected consequences of the proposed EU regulation in this area.A large representation of Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa employees is presenting their papers at the conference.