Poland's Jastrzønbska Spółka Węglowa (JSW), the largest producer of coking coal in the EU, allocated more than 300 million zlotys in 2015-2025 for projects to reduce methane emissions into the atmosphere and generate energy from this gas. The company is implementing a number of investment and research programs aimed at increasing methane capture and its further use, according to a press release.
JSW notes that the methane threat is an integral part of the operation of coking coal mines, and the safety of miners remains the top priority. For this purpose, the enterprises have degassing systems that allow for the safe removal of methane and its use on the surface as fuel.
The captured gas is sent to boilers and cogeneration plants, where it is used to generate electricity and heat. Electricity supplies mine facilities, and heat is used to heat buildings, heat water, and mine shafts. Some of the gas is also sold to external producers.
Currently, 11 cogeneration plants with a total capacity of 40 MW are operating at JSW mines. In 2025, they produced 142 thousand MWh of electricity, using more than 34 million cubic meters. M of methane. This volume of generation is comparable to the annual consumption of a city with a population of about 50 thousand. Human.
The company continues to increase its capacity: the construction of 14 more cogeneration plants is underway – 6 at the Budryk mine, 4 at the Szczygłowice site and 4 at the Pniówek mine. In the future, the total capacity of the system should increase to 60 MW. In 2025 alone, JSW's own generation allowed it to save more than 62 million zlotys on electricity purchases.
According to the methane emission reduction program, JSW plans to achieve 50% degassing efficiency in 2027, of which 95% of the methane should be used economically. The company also implements the research projects REM, MASTERMINE, ProVAM and METH2GEN aimed at digitalization of degassing, reduction of ventilation methane and hydrogen production. Their combined budget exceeds €63.8 million.
