167 advanced technique for methane drainage of coal seams using underground long directional boreholes (LRDD). After the research and conceptual phase, the project was implemented in the Staszic-Wujek coal mine belonging to the PGG. The implementation of this technique in mine conditions allowed to capture twice as much methane as with classic coal mine wells. In addition, the methane content from seam methane drainage using LRDD was on average 82%, with ap to 40% in classic coal mine methane drainage. Moreover, combined methane drainage consisting in a combination of these two techniques was tested. This has increased the efficiency of methane drainage to over 50%. Detailed analyses of seam methane drainage in the conditions of the Staszic-Wujek coal mine confirmed that the most effective boreholes were LRDD boreholes located 20–35 meters above the coal seam. The implementation of the DD-MET project has brought real benefits in the form of increasing the efficiency of methane drainage and thus reducing methane emissions into the atmosphere. Currently, LRDD holes are used in PGG mines for methane drainage as an additional and effective method. Another major research and investment task, carried out with co-financing from RFCS, is a project with the acronym REM. It is scheduled for 2022–2027. It is attended by 4 entities from ICE-CMM Poland and two foreign entities, Universidad De Oviedo and Insemex Romania. It is being implemented at the Pniówek coking coal mine, owned by JSW S.A. Its primary goal is to reduce methane emissions into the atmosphere by reducing its content in the ventilation air. The planned method for achieving this goal is to seal the post-mining goafs and drain them of methane using directional wels drilled into the goafs. The project assumes the development of proprietary technology and techniques for sealing dams and effective methane drainage of the excavations. In addition, the captured methane will be used to produce electricity in gas engines. This will reduce the methane content in the ventilation air and its emission into the atmosphere. Preliminary estimates for the year of completion of the project (2027). assume that additional approx. 14 million Nm3 of methane will be taken from the VAM and approx. 60 000 MWh of energy will be produced per year. Another interesting task is a project with the acronym METH2GEN. Also, co-financed by the EU RFCS. Its aim is to increase the efficiency of methane drainage carried out in mines and to generate clean energy from the obtained methane. It is being implemented at JSW's mines and is planned for 2025–2029. To increase the efficiency of coal seam methane drainage, it is planned to drill long directional drainage holes (LRDD). The obtained methane is to be sent to a methane drainage station, while its excess amounts will be compressed and stored, and then processed into hydrogen in the process of steam reforming. The CO2 produced in this process will be used for fire protection in mines and/or sequestered in post-mining zones. It's difficult to discuss the project's impact currently, as it's still in its early stages of implementation. It's certainly a very innovative project that could set the direction for reducing methane emissions in the mining industry. The project results confirm the practical relevance of the solution and its potential for application in other mining operations with similar conditions. The activities and projects presented in this paper directly respond to the theme of WMC 2026 – Mining for the Future, and its three guiding pillars: Trust, Transformation and Technology, because: • The initiatives implemented by ICE-CMM Poland focus on solutions that are already being applied under real mining conditions. Pilot and demonstration projects conducted in operating mines have delivered measurable outcomes in terms of methane capture,
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