On October 20, 2021, the Central Mining Institute’s Experimental Mine "Barbara" was visited by members of the Senate's National Economy and Innovation Commission. The study visit by the Polish senators encompassed a tour of the Mine, a demonstration of coal dust explosion and a lengthy discussion on the role of coal and new technologies for utilising coal in the Polish economy as well as the use of methane, particularly in the context of the EU's ETS system.
During the meeting, the commission, led by Senator Maria Koc, honoured GIG Director Stanisław Prusek with a special medal of the Commission of the Senate of the Republic of Poland.