7th International Scientific-Technical Conference
The 7th International Scientific-Technical Conference was held at the Continuing Education Centre of the Silesian University of Technology in Rybnik. During the four-day conference, the participants-scientists, experts, members of parliament, representatives of mining companies and local governments - talked about the future of the mining industry, perspectives for sustainable energy development and technologies supporting mineral exploitation.
More than 250 people from Poland and abroad attended the 7th International Scientific-Technical Conference: "Energy-environment- mineral exploitation-management and sustainable development". The meeting was held at the Continuing Education Centre of the Silesian University of Technology in Rybnik. - It is a cyclical conference, this time devoted to energy, the environment of mineral exploitation, management and sustainable development.
Today, in the face of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the global energy situation requires change. We are facing a crisis in the availability of energy minerals, rising energy prices and environmental concerns, and that is the reason why we are organising this meeting - said Professor Zygmunt Łukaszczyk, director of the Continuing Education Centre in Rybnik.
The conference was attended by representatives of the government, members of parliament, scientists, companies active in the mining industry, and representatives of local government and the Silesian Voivodship.
- Today's situation proves that the security and diversification of fuel supply and sustainable energy production are trends that have synergies. Today, Europe is challenged with answering some fundamental questions. These questions include whether there is a renaissance of nuclear energy and a slower shift away from coal, whether the emission trading system as a tool for implementing climate policy needs to be revised, and whether the Green Transformation of the energy sector will not be stopped as a result of the crisis caused by the war, and whether green hydrogen obtained from RES is a sufficient alternative to fossil fuels - emphasized Professor Zygmunt Łukaszczyk.
Senator Wojciech Piecha, who was present at the conference, emphasised that such conferences are very much needed. - Mining still plays a very important role in the economic life of Poland. We generate almost 50% of our electricity from hard coal and over 20% from lignite, which is a very large potential. If this capacity was lost, we could have major problems relating to imports and the uncertainty of energy supplies. That is why mining should be protected as long as possible," said Senator Piecha.
- Such conferences shape the views and directions we should take. Unfortunately, without this, we will wander. (...) We need to take specific action now because people need energy now, and energy is getting more expensive. There’s a shortage of coal. Liquidation of mines without modernisation of the power industry is illogical, because we have to buy this coal anyway, and in the West, on the stock exchange, it is very expensive, even 400 dollars per ton - said Professor Franciszek Plewa, dean of the Faculty of Mining, Safety Engineering and Industrial Automation of the Silesian University of Technology.
The meeting of the participants of the 7th International Scientific-Technical Conference took place from 6 to 9 June 2022. Alongside the sessions, there were also study trips to the mines and mining companies. The conference was organised by the Silesian University of Technology, the Continuing Education Centre in Rybnik and the Silesian University of Technology Alumni Association. The event was held under the honorary patronage of the Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship and the Polish Mining Group.
For more photos go to: Politechnika Śląska | VII Międzynarodowa Konferencja Naukowo-Techniczna (polsl.pl)
