1317 The amount of methane emission factor from ventilation shafts per mine and per operator, if one entity operates several coal mines, is shown in Figure No. 5, where the height of the permissible methane emission thresholds that will apply from 2027 and from 2031 is also indicated. Figure 5 - Methane emission factor Although Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 does not currently specify the permissible emission thresholds for methane from ventilation shafts in coking coal mines, it obliges the European Commission to supplement it in the form of a delegated act by 5th August 2027, by introducing restrictions on the release of methane into the atmosphere from ventilation shafts in the case of mines of this type of coal. The Polish hard coal mining industry faces a significant challenge in reducing methane emissions to the atmosphere. Although coal producers have been running multidimensional actions for many years that result in a real reduction in methane emissions into the atmosphere, these actions are insufficient. Therefore, many scientific projects are currently underway, which will result in technical solutions that can be applied on an industrial scale in coal mines. The aim of this research is to increase the efficiency of methane drainage as a key solution to reducing the ventilation methane content of mines, while increasing the efficiency of methane management 7. STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING METHANE EMISSIONS IN THE POLISH HARD COAL MINING INDUSTRY In the Polish hard coal mining industry, the main potential for reducing methane emissions to the atmosphere lies in increasing the efficiency of methane drainage, developing cogeneration systems, and implementing pilot VAM installations. The barriers that currently limit the full use of the above possibilities are the geological variability of methane content, which causes a certain unpredictability of methane emissions into mine workings, the need for uninterrupted ventilation of mines (with specific safety parameters), high investment costs and a low level of technological maturity of VAM solutions. As part of its involvement in global climate policy, Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa SA adopted the Environmental Strategy until 2030 in 2022, in which it outlined its role in shaping the environmental and energy-climate transformation of Poland and the European Union. The primary objective is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 (0.00 Mt CO2e), and the medium-term goal is to reduce the carbon footprint by 30% by 2030 (5.75 Mt CO2e) relative to 2018 (8.22 Mt CO2e). Due to the fact that methane constitutes 72% of JSW SA's carbon footprint, the company has implemented the Methane Emission Reduction Program, the implementation of which aims to capture methane by methane drainage at the level of approximately 50% and its economic use at the level of 95% - economic utilization program methane (GWM) consisting in the installation of subsequent
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