News

A School of Surface Mining? We will!

Anita is heading to Wisła. From 4 to 6 September, she will be taking part in the jubilee (tenth!) edition of the School of Surface Mining conference organised by the Stanisław Staszic AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków. One of this year’s issues to be discussed at the conference will include safe mining of minerals and minimising natural hazards, as well as obtaining environmental decisions – a topic Anita has a keen interest in.

The conference will feature the experiences of mining companies on phytoremediation, natural diversity in industrial areas and the reduction of pollution from fugitive emissions, including light emissions.

“The latter issue is usually heavily downplayed in analyses of emissions from industrial facilities. I am curious to hear the experiences of investors in this area,” says Anita Kuliś, board member of Sotis Advisors.

What else will we hear during the School of Surface Mining? Several papers on the legal aspects of conducting mining activities with public participation. Not insignificant is the role of ESG (environment – social responsibility – corporate governance) in the energy transition process and experiences from Germany. The papers cover technical as well as environmental, legal and social issues. Aggregate and lignite mines, scientists, representatives of the administration, lawyers and technology suppliers will present their experiences.

Read more on the SGO website.

photo: Yara International’s open pit mine in Siilinjärvi, Finland/Wikipedia

#AtomInAction, about trends in nuclear power development

The future of nuclear power, the way forward for electricity and heat generation using nuclear reactions – in the latest article in our #AtomInAction series, which we write together with energy experts Deloitte.

In the article about SMRs and Generation IV reactors, the thorium cycle and nuclear fusion.

“Generation II and III/III+ reactors are the nuclear reactors currently in operation and under construction. In contrast, the new generation is referred to as Generation IV reactors. These types of reactors are intended to be sustainable energy systems that will provide energy at competitive prices, with optimal use of raw materials, with a high level of safety, reliability and nuclear proliferation resistance,” – writes Dr Przemysław Żydak, board member/co-owner of Sotis Advisors.

The Generation IV International Forum has selected six of the most promising technologies for further development: gas-cooled fast reactor, high-temperature supercritical water reactor , sodium-cooled fast reactor, lead-cooled fast reactor, molten salt reactor.

The full article is available on the Deloitte website.


Read also:

#AtomInAction, this time about small modular reactors
#AtomInAction, this time about nuclear regulations
#AtomInAction, about the costs of implementing nuclear energy
#AtomInAction – we write for Deloitte

What do we have in common with the Station Investment Programme?

We participated in the preparation of the feasibility study for the three railway lines included in the Station Investment Programme. As part of this project, the Polish State Railways plans to modernise 150 railway stations by 2030.

This is the second edition of the Station Investment Programme, in which at least 150 facilities will be renovated. In the first one, which ran from 2016 to 2023, the PKP modernised nearly two hundred. As a result, the stations will become more modern, the comfort and safety of travellers will improve and, most importantly, accessibility for people with reduced mobility will be improved.

We participated in the preparation of feasibility studies for the three railway lines included in the project. We did the environmental impact analysis and the impact on climate and climate change adaptation. As part of this work, a catalogue of mitigation measures was produced. We also had in mind the adaptation of these stations for people with disabilities. The project was prepared together with a team of architects and economists from PWC.

photo: Modernised and refurbished station building in Wegliniec / PKP