MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT
  
Warsaw, 17 June 2008
  
The First International Debate titled "Raw Material Resources in Europe" to be held by Congress of the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Mineral Resources 
 
On 19 June, in Wroc³aw, Dr. Henryk Jezierski, Under-Secretary of State w Ministry of the Environment, Chief National Geologist, takes part to the First International Debate titled "Raw Material Resources in Europe" to be held by Congress of the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Mineral Resources.
 
The meeting provides opportunity to discuss the issues of sustainable development in extractive industry of mineral resources in Europe, including those of clean coal technology, environmental technology and new trends towards their application in building, road construction and other economy sectors in conjunction with recovery of useful raw materials and recycling of waste originated in course of the extraction processes. 

During debates, Dr. Henryk J. Jezierski is expected to deliver presentation on "Brown coal. Will its new mines be established in Poland?"
 

The European Technology Platform for Sustainable Mineral Resources (ETP SMR) was established in 2005, and on 16 May 2008, the European Commission officially recognised its rights as equal to other Technology Platforms in the field of science and innovation. The ETP SMR aims at modernising and reshaping a fundamental pillar of the European economy: the European Minerals Industries. These include oil, gas, coal, metal ores, industrial minerals, ornamental stones, aggregates, smelters as well as technology suppliers and engineering companies. The Goal of the ETP SMR is to modernise and reshape one of the fundamental pillars of the European economy and society: the European extracting and processing sector of energy and non-energy minerals, following the principle "zero emission, zero waste". The ETP SMR provides for more environmentally friendly products and their manufacture, reduction of raw materials and energy consumption, availability of mineral raw materials, their recovery and recycling.