At the invitation of the Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences (MEERI PAS), representatives of the Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute Carpathian Branch in Kraków participated on 5-6 September 2023 in an event dedicated to the GeoModel project entitled 'Optimal management of low-temperature geothermal reservoirs – Polish-Icelandic cooperation in reservoir modelling'..

On 5 September 2023, a conference on the GeoModel project was held in Kraków. The project is implemented in cooperation between the Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences (MEERI PAS) and the Iceland Geothermal Energy GeoSurvey (ISOR). The conference was also attended by employees of the PGI-NRI Carpathian Branch: Kamil Pawelec, Małgorzata Tott and Małgorzata Jarosz.

The aim of the GeoModel project is to improve the quality of management of low-temperature geothermal resources in Poland and Iceland, and in the future also in other countries. It is very important from the point of view of rational management of natural resources that the benefits resulting from monitoring geothermal resources are promoted. The conference was an opportunity to present the progress of the project.

The meeting was organised as part of a Project financed by the Bilateral Cooperation Fund from the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism (EEA FMF) and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism (NMF), 'Environment, Energy and Climate Change' Programme.

On the following day, 6 September 2023, representatives of the Iceland Geothermal Energy GeoSurvey (ISOR) and a delegation from the MEERI PAS, led by Prof. Beata Kępińska, visited the PGI-NRI Carpathian Branch in Kraków. The meeting began with the guests being welcomed by the Branch Director, Izabela Laskowicz, PhD. The first presentation was made by Tomasz Gągulski, M.Sc. It was a short historical outline of the Institute, pointing out discoveries important for the development of the country, presentation of a wide spectrum of activities of the Polish Geological Survey (PGS) and the Polish Hydrogeological Survey (PHS) as well as those of scientific and research character carried out at PGI-NRI.

During the Institute's presentation – J. Burtan Hall (PGI-NRI Carpathian Branch)

A presentation on ISOR's activities was given by Mr Bjarni Gautason, Director of Monitoring and Education. He began with a brief historical introduction regarding the origins of ISOR in Iceland, followed by a discussion of its main activities, both at home and abroad.

Bjarni Gautason during the presentation

After a short discussion, Małgorzata Garecka, PhD, presented a collection of geological specimens from the PGI-NRI Carpathian Branch museum collection. The visit of representatives of ISOR and a delegation from MEERI PAS to the PGI-NRI Carpathian Branch ended with a commemorative photo.

Joint photo of the meeting participants in front of the building of the PGI-NRI Carpathian Branch

The visit of ISOR to PGI-NRI Carpathian Branch was not the only item of the agenda prepared by the staff of this Branch. Representatives of the Iceland Geothermal Energy GeoSurvey were also invited for a tour, during which they had an opportunity to visit the Salt Mine Wieliczka, entered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978. During the tour, the guests were accompanied by Wojciech Granoszewski, PhD, and Tomasz Gągulski, MSc.

To sum up, the meeting was an opportunity to establish valuable international contacts. The presentation of both services' activities gives an opportunity to seek common ground for future cooperation.

Text: Tomasz Gągulski
Photos: Kamil Pawelec, Tomasz Operacz