Q: In this year’s budget the institute plans to spend more than PLN 4 million on research into new possibilities of using coal. Does that signify a radical change in Poland’s coal strategy?
A: We perceive existing opportunities related to the fact that Poland’s energy security is based on hard and brown coal but we also notice the dangers stemming from those fuels. The European Union has approved a Climate Package which is to restrict the emission of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide in particular. The Central Mining Institute, in conjunction with other R&D institutes in Poland and abroad, is pursuing work on developing ways of making better use of coal, as well as of solutions which would allow Polish industry to satisfy environment requirements in the future. These include underground gasification of coal, a method we are elaborating in an international consortium within the HUGE European project financed by the Coal and Steel Research Fund, and also work on ways and means to store carbon dioxide in underground geological structures. This is being performed within the development project “Study on the safe storage of CO2 on the example of the Silesia agglomeration” financed by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, as well as numerous other European projects within the 6 EU Framework Programme and research tasks financed by our statutory means.
The change of certain priorities which has occurred in our strategy is not taking place at the cost of fundamental statutory tasks which serve the sustained growth of Polish coal mining, that is in work safety, effectiveness and environment protection on mining land. I do not treat that as a radical signal of a basic change in Poland’s coal strategy but as a positive reaction to the new challenges which are faced by this energy generating fuel of such strategic importance to Poland...
Q: ...and from which liquid fuel can be produced.
A: Coal is not just a highly productive primary energy carrier but also a magnificent chemical raw material from which such products as coke, natural gas substitute, hydrogen, methanol and fuels are produced. Burning coal only for electricity and heat generation is wastage of that “black gold”. Similar chemical products can, of course, be manufactured from other fossil fuels: crude oil and natural gas. It was specifically their world supply, price and certain other features which decided and still decide that coal continues to await its grand “chemical” opportunity. The experiences of such countries as the Republic of South Africa are proof that these do not have to be pipe dreams.
The Central Mining Institute performed wide-ranging research on the liquefaction of coal and the production of fuels, so called coal petroleum. It must be regretted that the economic factors which were unprofitable then caused further research in this field to be shelved. Today we approach the moment when the production of fuels and other chemical products from coal will be profitable. That is the reason why we have elaborated technical-economical studies in conjunction with specialists from PKN ORLEN, the Polish Petroleum manufacturers, concerning the construction of a fuel producing plant based on hard coal – a method drafted by the Central Mining Institute, together with an analysis of the profitability of such a venture. I am convinced that the time is fast approaching when such projects will find practical implementation in the whole world and in Poland.
Q: Having said that, it must also be admitted that many mining managers treat, with scepticism, the wave of hope for new “clean coal” technologies in energy generation, gasification of coal and in other forms of a “coal technology revolution.
A: The principal part must be played by electricity generation as regards new and clean coal technologies, since it is the major recipient of coal. I feel that the scepticism concerning these technologies, if it does exist, is unfounded. The existence of coal-based electricity generation guarantees the demand for it and, in that manner, the very existence of coal mines. Mining itself also has a very significant role to play in that field, not only by ensuring stable deliveries of coal as a fuel but also the steady improvement of its quality. The issue of a more effective way of storing and making economic use of the methane released during coal processing is another important element highlighted in the “clean coal” motto, methane being a gas 20 times more aggressive than carbon dioxide.