The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, is now one of the principal priorities of research centres throughout the world. The emissions of methane, apart from an adverse environmental impact, lead to considerable energy losses. Some 12 per cent (22 Mt/year) of the global annual emissions of CH4 is associated with coal mining and use, of which Poland's contribution is 0.6 Mt/year. The present study analyses three approaches to the utilisation of methane released to atmosphere by the Polish mining industry. (1) A process is analysed for the adsorptive enrichment of methane drainage gas. The objective of the process is to produce a gas of parameters suitable for the commercial use in natural gas distribution systems. It is found that in a two-stage pressure swing adsorption process the concentration of methane can be obtained similar to that in the GZ-50 pipeline gas. (2) A process is discussed for the catalytic removal of methane from the mine ventilation air in a catalytic flow reversal reactor (CFRR), with the simultaneous production of superheated steam. It is concluded that the stable reactor operation and the optimum recovery of the heat generated in the process can be achieved in a system with the lateral gas withdrawal. (3) An economic analysis is carried out concerning the utilisation of mine ventilation air as combustion air in existing boilers. Economic feasibility conditions are derived for transportation systems that supply the ventilation air to the utilisation site.