2010 The Coal Mine Methane Expert Group of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in collaboration with the Global Methane Initiative (GMI) has published a Best Practice Guide for the Effective Capture and Use of Coal Mine Methane. The main objectives of the document are to increase underground safety, promote the socially and economically viable use or destruction of captured gas, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
2011 The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) took the first steps to ensure the universal application of Best Practice in coal mines worldwide by initiating joint action by UN Member States, international organisations and Regional Commissions. On this basis the Expert Group together with interested local partners, decided to establish a network of independent, self-financing International Centres of Excellence for CMM, operating under the auspices of the UNECE. Their mandate is to serve as publicly accessible repositories of technical expertise, to co-create and promote best practices and to work towards improving international cooperation as well as enhancing the operational and technical capacities of countries in the subject areas consistent with their mandate.
07.06.2017 The world's first Centre of Excellence has been inaugurated in Poland. The agreement to establish it was signed in Geneva in 2015 by UNECE and the Central Mining Institute (GIG).
On 17.08.2017 by a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of the Gas Industry (IGG), the International Centre of Excellence for Coal Mine Methane in Poland was incorporated into the organisational structure of the IGG.
01.01.2022 by a resolution of the GIG Management Board, based on a proposal by the Presidium, the International Centre of Excellence for Coal Mine Methane in Poland was incorporated into the organisational structure of GIG.
THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE ICE-CMM BY THE GIG:
To endeavour and collect information on relevant case studies and lessons learnt in the sustainable management of coal mine methane, to provide technical advice for their development, and to serve as a source of information on such cases and practices;
Organising training and visits to the International Centre of Excellence for Coal Mine Methane by coal mine methane practitioners from interested United Nations ("UN") member countries;
Organising, in cooperation with the Secretariat of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe ("UNECE") and the members of the UNECE Coal Mine Methane Expert Group, training activities outside the ICE-CMM Poland premises;
Carrying out research in the field of methane from mines, as appropriate for UNECE member countries, under the auspices of the UNECE Coal Mine Methane Expert Group and in cooperation with relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, industry representations and other stakeholders;
Engaging with the wider mining community, including civil society, mining associations, and decision-makers through electronic and social media to raise awareness of existing challenges and opportunities in the coal mine methane sector;
Promoting Polish technical thought on mining and the capture and effective use of methane from mines and CBM worldwide
www.jsw.pl