Brown coal

2022

Resources and output

Domestic anticipated economic resources of brown coal in Poland amounted to 23,084.83 million tonnes as of the end of 2022. The majority of resources – that is 23,084.19 million tonnes – constitute energy coals, remaining 0.64 million tonnes are bituminous coals (documented in C₂ category in the Kaławsk-szyb główny deposit). There were also coals usable for the production of briquettes and coals suitable for the production of coal tar and liquid through a distillation documented in the past. Currently, all these coals are used and treated only as energy coals.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of the exploration and development of brown coal deposits in Poland.

Table 1. Brown coal – million tonnes

The anticipated economic resources within exploited deposits amounted in 2022 to 982.48 million tonnes and accounted for 4.26% of total anticipated economic resources. Brown coal from these deposits was exploited by 4 mines: Bełchatów, Turów, Konin and Sieniawa. The exploitation from the Drzewce deposit (in KWB Konin S.A. Company) ended in 2022.

More than 22% (5,185.33 million tonnes) of the brown coal anticipated economic resources constitute the resources of the deposits within the so-called Poznań through. These are the Czempin, Gostyń, Krzywin and Mosina deposits where potentially strip mining is nowadays precluded due to the environmental protection (surface) and in the connection with a large scale of production farms. These are the main issues to be solved by the local societies, the ecological organizations and the supporters of the deposits development, before the exploitation starts. It might seriously complicate the deposit development in the future.

Table 2 shows basic parameters of non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources exceeding 75 million tonnes.

Table 2. Basic parameters of non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources exceeding 75 million tonnes

The anticipated economic resources of brown coal amounted to 23,084.83 million tonnes as of the end of 2022 and decreased by 58.09 million tonnes (it means by 0.25%) in comparison with the previous year. The resources drop was mainly the result of the exploitation and the exploitation losses but also of the declines/growths coming from the better deposit exploration which are demonstrated by concession holders in their reports (mining reports of mineral deposit resources).

Economic resources of brown coal amounted to 819.39 million tonnes as of 31 December 2022 and decreased by 59.27 million tonnes (6.75%) in comparison with 2021. This change was caused by the output, the resources declines coming from the losses, the better deposits exploration during the exploitation and reclassification of the part of economic resources to the sub-economic resources within the Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów deposit. In 2022, there was not any new deposit development plan or a supplement to such a plan elaborated.

The brown coal output, according to the data provided by the concession holders, increased in 2022 by 2,828 thousand tonnes (that is by 5.16%) in comparison with the previous year and amounted to 57,679 thousand tonnes. The exploitation was carried out from 7 deposits, however from the Drzewce deposit the operation on the deposit ended in August 2022. The majority of the domestic output came from the outcrops exploited by the PGE GiEK join-stock Company, particularly from the Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit (40,735 thousand tonnes) which accounted for 70.62% of the domestic output (in 2020 and 2021, these percentage contributions were as follows – 71.16% and 69.19%, respectively). The gradually increasing output from the Szczerców field compensates the depletion of the Bełchatów field (3,524 thousand tonnes, that is 6.11% of the domestic output in 2022, with the percentage contributions equal 5.37% in 2020 and 5.27% in 2021) and allows to maintain the stable level of the exploitation for the Bełchatów power station. The output from the Turów deposit was equal 9,881 thousand tonnes (17.13% of the domestic output). The exploitation level from the deposits located in the Konin area (to the needs of the ZE PAK join-stock Company) amounted to: the Tomisławice deposit – 1,160 thousand tonnes (2.01% of the domestic output); the Drzewce deposit – 1,050 thousand tonnes (1.82%); the Pątnów IV deposit – 797 thousand tonnes (1.38%). The remaining output came from the Sieniawa 2 deposit and was equal 531 thousand tonnes (0.92% of the domestic output). In comparison with 2021, the brown coal output increased in 4 deposits: – by 2,782 thousand tonnes (7.33%) from the Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit; – by 1,054 thousand tonnes (11.94%) from the Turów deposit; – by 635 thousand tonnes (21.98%) from the Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów deposit; – by 172 thousand tonnes (47.91%) from the Sieniawa 2 deposit. In 3 remaining, exploited deposits, there were the output drops recorded – the most significant for the Tomisławice deposit amounted to 1,324 thousand tonnes (53.30%); for the Pątnów IV deposit it was 422 thousand tonnes (34.62%), whereas for the Drzewce deposit the exploitation level decreased by 10 thousand tonnes (0.94%).

The potential extension of the brown coal resources base, in terms of the traditional opencast mining, is in particular connected with the formalization (the geological documentation in D category) of the already known brown coal occurrences for which the documentation has not been elaborated due to the low degree of the geological exploration. According to the current data, the Polish prognostic brown coal resources with potential balancing features amount to 18,251.79 million tonnes*).

The figure shows changes in the resources and production of brown coal in Poland in the years 1989-2022.

 

In the Table 3 given below there is the state of resources exploration, the state of deposits development along with the output volumes presented for the whole country.

Table 3. List of brown coal deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Sławomir Mazurek, Marcin Tymiński

* Kasiński J.R., Mazurek S., Młynarczyk M., 2020 – ‘Węgiel brunatny (brown coal)’. W: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (red. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 84-98. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

2021

Resources and output

Domestic anticipated economic resources of brown coal in Poland amounted to 23,142.92 million tonnes as of the end of 2021. The majority of resources – that is 23,142.28 million tonnes – constitute energy coals, remaining 0.64 million tonnes are bituminous coals (documented in C₂ category in the Kaławsk-szyb główny deposit). There were also coals usable for the production of briquettes and coals suitable for the production of coal tar and liquid through a distillation documented in the past. Currently, all these coals are used and treated only as energy coals.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of the exploration and development of brown coal deposits in Poland.

Table 1. Brown coal – million tonnes

The anticipated economic resources within exploited deposits amounted in 2021 to 1,040.90 million tonnes and accounted for 4.50% of total anticipated economic resources. Brown coal from these deposits was exploited by five mines: Bełchatów, Turów, Adamów, Konin and Sieniawa. The Adamów mine finished the exploitation of the Adamów deposit in February 2021.

More than 22% (5,185.33 million tonnes) of the brown coal anticipated economic resources constitute the resources of the deposits within the so-called Poznań through. These are the Czempin, Gostyń, Krzywin and Mosina deposits where potentially strip mining is nowadays precluded due to the environmental protection (surface) and in the connection with a large scale of production farms. These are the main issues to be solved by the local societies, the ecological organizations and the supporters of the deposits development, before the exploitation starts. It might seriously complicate the deposit development in the future.

Table 2 shows basic parameters of non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources exceeding 75 million tonnes.

Table 2. Basic parameters of non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources exceeding 75 million tonnes

The anticipated economic resources of brown coal amounted to 23,142.92 million tonnes as of the end of 2021 and decreased by 58.72 million tonnes (it means by 0.25%) in comparison with the previous year. The resources drop was mainly the result of the exploitation and the exploitation losses but also of the declines/growths coming from the better deposit exploration which are demonstrated by concession holders in their reports (mining reports of mineral deposit resources).

Economic resources of brown coal amounted to 878.66 million tonnes as of 31 December 2021 and decreased by 59.03 million tonnes (6.30%) in comparison with 2020. These change was caused by the output, the resources declines coming from the losses and the better deposits exploration during the exploitation. In 2021, there was not any new deposit development plan or a supplement to such a plan elaborated.

The brown coal output, according to the data provided by the concession holders, increased in 2021 by 7,551 thousand tonnes (that is by 15.96%) in comparison with the previous year and amounted to 54,851 thousand tonnes. The exploitation was carried out from 8 deposits, however from the Adamów deposit only at the beginning of 2021 and the operation on the deposit was finished on the 17th of February 2021. The majority of the domestic output came from the outcrops exploited by the PGE GiEK join-stock Company, particularly from the Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit (37,953 thousand tonnes) which accounted for 69.19% of the domestic output (in 2019 and 2020, these percentage contributions were as follows – 68.89% and 71.16%, respectively). The gradually increasing output from the Szczerców field compensates the depletion of the Bełchatów field (2,889 thousand tonnes, that is 5.27% of the domestic output in 2021, with the percentage contributions equal 8.28% in 2019 and 5.37% in 2020) and allows to maintain the stable level of the exploitation for the Bełchatów power station. The output from the Turów deposit was equal 8,827 thousand tonnes (16.09% of the domestic output). The exploitation level from the deposits located in the Konin area (to the needs of the ZE PAK join-stock Company) amounted to: the Tomisławice deposit – 2,484 thousand tonnes (4.53% of the domestic output); the Pątnów IV deposit – 1,219 thousand tonnes (2.22%); the Drzewce deposit – 1,060 thousand tonnes (1.93%) and the Adamów deposit – 60 thousand tonnes (0.11%). The remaining output came from the Sieniawa 2 deposit and was equal 359 thousand tonnes (0.65% of the domestic output). In comparison with 2020, the brown coal output increased in five deposits: – by 4,293 thousand tonnes (12.75%) from the Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit; – by 3,760 thousand tonnes (74.21%) from the Turów deposit; – by 377 thousand tonnes (17.89%) from the Tomisławice deposit; – by 351 thousand tonnes (13.83%) from the Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów dposit; – by 146 thousand tonnes (68.54%) from the Sieniawa 2 deposit. In three remaining, exploited deposits, there were the output drops recorded – the most significant for the Adamów deposit amounted to 655 thousand tonnes (91.61%); for the Pątnów IV deposit it was 366 thousand tonnes (23.09%), whereas for the Drzewce deposit the exploitation level decreased by 354 thousand tonnes (25.04%).

The potential extension of the brown coal resources base, in terms of the traditional opencast mining, is in particular connected with the formalization (the geological documentation in D category) of the already known brown coal occurrences for which the documentation has not been elaborated due to the low degree of the geological exploration. According to the current data, the Polish prognostic brown coal resources with potential balancing features amount to 18,251.79 million tonnes*).

The figure shows changes in the resources and production of brown coal in Poland in the years 1989-2021.

 

In the Table 3 given below there is the state of resources exploration, the state of deposits development along with the output volumes presented for the whole country.

Table 3. List of brown coal deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Sławomir Mazurek, Marcin Tymiński

* Kasiński J.R., Mazurek S., Młynarczyk M., 2020 – ‘Węgiel brunatny (brown coal)’. W: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (red. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 84-98. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

2020

Resources and output

Poland’s anticipated economic resources of brown coal amounted to 23,201.64 million tonnes as of the end of 2020. The majority of resources – that is 23,201.00 million tonnes – constitute energy coals, remaining 0.64 million tonnes are bituminous coals (documented in C₂ category Kaławsk-szyb główny deposit). There were also coals usable for the production of briquettes and coals suitable for the production of coal tar and liquid through a distillation documented in the past. Currently, all these coals are used and treated as energy coals only.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of the exploration and development of brown coal deposits in Poland.

Table 1. Brown coal – million tonnes

The anticipated economic resources within exploited deposits amounted in 2020 to 1,110.62 million tonnes and accounted for 4.79% of total anticipated economic resources. Brown coal is being exploited in Poland by five mines: Bełchatów, Turów, Adamów, Konin and Sieniawa.

More than 22% (5,185.33 million tonnes) of the anticipated economic resources constitute the resources of the deposits within the Poznań through. These are Czempin, Gostyń, Krzywin and Mosina deposits where potentially strip mining is nowadays precluded on the environmental grounds and in the connection with large scale of production farms. These are the main issues to be solved by the local societies, the ecological organizations and the supporters of the deposits development, before the exploitation starts. It might seriously complicate the deposit development in the future. On February 2nd, 2021 the Council of Ministers approved ‘The Energy Policy of Poland 2040’ – in the document, the mining development of brown coal deposits for the energy purposes is not expected. The exception is the possible inclusion the following deposits to the exploitation:

• Złoczew;
• Ościsłowo (ZE PAK join-stock Company made a decision to not applying for the deposit development*;
• Gubin (as a reserve deposit)**.

The Energy Policy of Poland 2040 states: the research and development activity should be focused on the searching for innovations to obtain the reduction of the environmental burden coming from the brown coal exploitation and on searching for the new solutions allowing for the low-carbon, effective and flexible use of the raw material (e.g. gasification, liquid fuels).

Table 2 shows basic parameters of non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources exceeding 75 million tonnes.

Table 2. Basic parameters of non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources exceeding 75 million tonnes

The anticipated economic resources of brown coal amounted to 23,201.64 million tonnes in 2020 and decreased by 60.19 million tonnes (it means by 0.26%) in comparison with the previous year. The resources drop was mainly the result of the exploitation but also of the exploitation losses and of the declines/growths coming from the better deposit exploration which are showed by concession holders in their reports (and in their inventories of mineral deposit resources).

Economic resources of brown coal amounted to 937.69 million tonnes as of 31 December 2020 and decreased by 56.86 million tonnes (5.72%) in comparison with 2019. The economic resources changes were caused by the output, the resources declines coming from the losses, the better deposits exploration during the exploitation and from the elaborated supplements to the deposits development plans. In 2020 the supplements were prepared for 4 deposits: Adamów, Drzewce, Pątnów IV and Turów. In the case of Adamów deposit, the resources decreased also in the result of reclassifying the part of economic resources into the sub-economic resources (3.90 million tonnes).

The brown coal output, according to the data provided by the concession holders, decreased in 2020 by 5,555 thousand tonnes (10.51%) in comparison with the previous year and amounted to 47,300 thousand tonnes. The exploitation was carried out in 8 deposits, there was no output recorded for Sieniawa 1 deposit. The majority of the domestic output came from the outcrops exploited by PGE GiEK join-stock Company, especially from Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit (33,660 thousand tonnes), which accounted for 71.16% of the domestic production (in 2018 and 2019, the percentage contributions were much lower – that is 56.66% and 68.89%). The gradually increasing output from the Szczerców field compensates the depletion of the Bełchatów field allowing to maintain the stable level of the exploitation for the Bełchatów power station. The output from Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów deposit amounted to 2,538 thousand tonnes (5.37% of the domestic output in 2020, with the percentage contributions in 2018 and 2019 equal 19.92% and 8.28%, respectively). The output from Turów deposit was equal 5,067 thousand tonnes (10.71% of the domestic output). The exploitation level in deposits located in the Konin area (to the needs of ZE PAK join-stock Company) amounted to: Tomisławice deposit – 2,107 thousand tonnes (4.46% of the domestic output); Pątnów IV – 1,585 thousand tonnes (3.35%), Drzewce – 1,414 thousand tonnes (2.99%) and Adamów – 715 thousand tonnes (1.51%). The remaining output came from Sieniawa 2 deposit and was equal 213 thousand tonnes (0.45% of the domestic output). In comparison with 2019, the brown coal output increased in two deposits: – by 101 thousand tonnes (7.69%) from Drzewce deposit; – by 49 thousand tonnes (0.98%) from Turów deposit. In other deposits, there were the output drops recorded – the most significant for Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit amounted to 2,754 thousand tonnes (7.56%); for Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów deposit it was 1,836 thousand tonnes (41.98%); for Pątnów IV deposit 629 thousand tonnes (28.41%); for Tomisławice deposit 222 thousand tonnes (9.53%), for Adamów deposit 180 thousand tonnes (20.11%), and for Sieniawa 2 deposit 83 thousand tonnes (28.04%).

The potential extension of the brown coal resources base, in terms of the traditional opencast mining, is in particular connected with the formalization (the geological documentation in D category) of the already known brown coal occurrences for which the documentation has not been elaborated due to the low degree of the geological exploration. According to the current data, the Polish prognostic brown coal resources with potential balancing features amount to 18,251.79 million tonnes***).

The figure shows changes in the resources and production of brown coal in Poland in the years 1989-2020.

 

In the Table 3 given below there is the state of resources exploration, the state of deposits development along with the output volumes presented for the whole country.

Table 3. List of brown coal deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Sławomir Mazurek, Marcin Tymiński

* Zielone kierunki strategii ZE PAK SA zaakceptowane – koniec z energią z węgla najpóźniej w 2030 roku [in Polish].

** Polityka energetyczna Polski do 2040 r. – page 16 [in Polish].

*** Kasiński J.R., Mazurek S., Młynarczyk M., 2020 – ‘Węgiel brunatny (brown coal)’. W: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (red. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 84-98. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

2019

Resources and output

Poland’s anticipated economic resources of brown coal amounted to 23,261.83 million tonnes as of the end of 2019. The majority of resources – that is 23,261.19 million tonnes – constitute energy coals, remaining 0.64 million tonnes are bituminous coals (documented in Kaławsk-szyb główny deposit). There were also coals usable for the production of briquettes and coals suitable for the production of coal tar and liquid through a distillation documented in the past. Currently, all these coals are used and treated as energy coals only.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of the exploration and development of brown coal deposits in Poland.

Table 1. Brown coal – million tonnes

The anticipated economic resources within exploited deposits amounted to 1,170.81 million tonnes and accounted for 5.03% of total anticipated economic resources. Brown coal is being exploited in Poland by five mines: Bełchatów, Turów, Adamów, Konin and Sieniawa.

About 22% (5,185.33 million tonnes) of anticipated economic resources constitute the resources of the deposits within the Poznań through. These are Czempin, Gostyń, Krzywin and Mosina deposits where potentially strip mining is nowadays precluded on the environmental grounds and in the connection with large scale of production farms. These are the main issues to be solved by the local societies, the ecological organizations and the supporters of the deposits development, before the exploitation starts. It might seriously complicate the deposit development in the future.

Table 2 shows basic parameters of non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources exceeding 75 million tonnes.

Table 2. Basic parameters of non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources exceeding 75 million tonnes

The anticipated economic resources of brown coal amounted to 23,261.83 million tonnes in 2019 and decreased by 53.69 million tonnes (it means by 0.23%) in comparison with the previous year. The resources drop was mainly the result of the exploitation but also of the exploitation losses and of the declines/growths coming from the better deposit exploration which are showed by concession holders in their reports (and in their inventories of mineral deposit resources).

Economic resources of brown coal amounted to 994.55 million tonnes as of 31 December 2019 and decreased by 53.05 million tonnes (5.06%) in comparison with 2018. The economic resources changes were caused mainly by the output and by resources declines coming from the losses and from the better exploration. Such changes are reported by concession holders in the reports.

The brown coal output, according to the data provided by the concession holders, decreased in 2019 by 8,289 thousand tonnes (13.56%) in comparison with the previous year and amounted to 52,855 thousand tonnes. The exploitation was carried out in 8 deposits, there was no output recorded for Sieniawa 1 deposit. The majority of the output came from the outcrops exploited by PGE GiEK join-stock Company, especially from Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit (36,414 thousand tonnes, which accounted for 68.89% of the domestic production). In 2018, the percentage was much lower – that is 56.66%. The gradually increasing output from the Szczerców field compensates the depletion of the Bełchatów field allowing to maintain the stable level of the exploitation for the Bełchatów power station. The output from Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów deposit amounted to only 4,374 thousand tonnes (8.28% of the domestic output). The output from Turów deposit was equal 5,018 thousand tonne (9.49% of the domestic output). The exploitation level in deposits located in the Konin area (to the needs of ZE PAK join-stock Company) amounted to: Tomisławice deposit – 2,329 thousand tonnes (4.41% of the domestic output); Pątnów IV – 2,214 thousand tonnes (4.19%), Drzewce – 1,313 thousand tonnes (2.48%) and Adamów – 895 thousand tonnes (1.69%). The remaining output came from Sieniawa 2 deposit and was equal 296 thousand tonnes (0.56% of the domestic output). In comparison with 2018, the brown coal output increased in four deposits: – by 1,770 thousand tonnes (5.11%) from Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit; – by 627 thousand tonnes (36.84%) from Tomisławice deposit; – by 236 thousand tonnes (almost fivefold – as a result of sale to ZE PAK join-stock Company) from Sieniawa 2 deposit; – by 99 thousand tonnes (12.44%) from Adamów deposit. In other deposits, there were the output drops recorded – the most significant for Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów deposit amounted to 7,806 thousand tonnes (64.09%); for Turów deposit it was 1,575 thousand tonnes (23.89%); for Pątnów IV deposit 957 thousand tonnes (30.18%); for Drzewce deposit 633 thousand tonnes (32.53%).

The Energy Policy of Poland 2030 indicated Legnica, Gubin and satellite deposits of operating mines as provided for the exploitation till 2030. Updated, governmental project of The Energy Policy of Poland till 2040 (issued on 8 November 2019) recognized Złoczew and Ościsłowo deposits as prospective, whereas Gubin deposit as reserve (de facto it did not indicate which one of: Gubin, Gubin 1, Gubin 2, Gubin – Zasieki – Brody deposits listed in Table 3 is recognized as reserve).

Even though the governmental documents predict the potential exploitation of only several deposits for energy production, they do not exclude the deposits development to other needs, especially the chemical processing. For such purpose, there should be brown coal occurrences identified at the depth exceeding 350 m taken into account. They have not been the subject of documentation so far due to the recommended limit values of the parameters that define the deposit for the opencast mining. The greater bedding depth is beneficial in terms of the underground gasification, but on the other hand the gasification process can be hampered by the hydrogeological conditions. Nevertheless, to start such exploitation, there must be redefined and formalized new balancing criteria and brand new documentation works have to be carried out – in the first place in the Ścinawa-Głogów prospective area with significant brown coal resources, in which most of the coal beds occur deep. The second potential region is the area of Pyrzyce and Myślibórz vicinities (Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship) with the Cenozoic base bedding deep.

The potential extension of the brown coal resources base, in terms of the traditional opencast mining, is in particular connected with the formalization (the geological documentation in D category) of the already known brown coal occurrences for which the documentation has not been elaborated due to the low degree of the geological exploration. According to the current data, the Polish prognostic brown coal resources with potential balancing features amount to 18,251.79 million tonnes*).

The figure shows changes in the resources and production of brown coal in Poland in the years 1989-2019.

 

In the Table 3 given below there is the state of resources exploration, the state of deposits development along with the output volumes presented for the whole country.

Table 3. List of brown coal deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Sławomir Mazurek, Marcin Tymiński

* Kasiński J.R., Mazurek S., Młynarczyk M., 2020 – ‘Węgiel brunatny (brown coal)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 84-98. PIG-PIB, Warszawa.

2018

In Poland, brown coal deposits occur in younger geological formations, mainly of the Tertiary age. Older brown coal deposits are known to occur also in the Jurassic, Carboniferous and rarely – Cretaceous and Triassic. The brown coals are intermediate in the qualification between hard coal and peat. Their characteristics and properties were markedly influenced by the type of the parent plant material and environment in which they originated.

Brown coal deposits originated both in platform areas and sedimentary basins in orogenic belts. The coals form the extensive seams from a few meters to several dozen meters in thickness. It also occur in the form of lenses. The thickness of overburden is usually quite small which makes the opencast mining of the deposits possible. Seams of older brown coals are often situated too deep below the surface level for the opencast mining and require the underground mining. This is also the case of coal seams occurring in glacitectonic folds. The methods of the underground mining were lately used in Poland to mine coals in Babina and Sieniawa deposits.

There is brown coal deposits occurrying in Poland presented on the map.

Brown coal resources are documented with taking into account the following limit values of the parameters that define the deposit for the opencast mining: the maximum depth of deposit base of 350 m, the minimum brown coal layer thickness in bed of 3 m and the maximum ratio of overburden and intercalation sum/deposit thickness of 12:1. The minimum weighted-average calorific value in a bed (with intercalations) should equal 6.5 MJ/kg (at the brown coal humidity of 50%). These are the basic criteria of geological-mining parameters and qualitative parameters for energy coals which are common in Polish deposits – typical ortholignites.

Poland’s anticipated economic resources of brown coal amounted to 23,315.52 million tonnes as of the end of 2018. The majority of resources – that is 23,314.88 million tonnes – constitute energy coals, remaining 0.64 million tonnes are bituminous coals. There were also coals usable for the production of briquettes and coals suitable for the production of coal tar and liquid through a distillation documented in the past. Currently, all these coals are used and treated as energy coals only.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of the exploration and development of brown coal deposits in Poland.

Table 1. Brown coal – million tonnes

Anticipated economic resources within exploited deposits amount to 1,224.50 million tonnes and account for 5.25% of total anticipated economic resources. Brown coal is being exploited by five mines: Bełchatów, Turów, Adamów, Konin and Sieniawa.

About 16.5% (3,690 million tonnes) of anticipated economic resources constitute the resources of the deposits within the Poznań through. These are Czempin, Gostyń, Krzywin and Mosina deposits where potentially strip mining is nowadays precluded on the environmental grounds and in connection with large scale of production farms. These are the main issues to be solved by the local societies, the ecological organizations and the supporters of the deposits development, before the exploitation starts. It might seriously complicate the deposit development in the future.

Table 2 shows basic parameters of non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources exceeding 75 million tonnes.

Table 2. Basic parameters of non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources exceeding 75 million tonnes

Anticipated economic resources of brown coal amounted to 23,315.06 million tonnes in 2018 and decreased by 69.54 million tonnes in comparison with the previous year. The resources drop is mainly the result of the exploitation but also of: – the exploitation losses; – the declines/growths coming from the better deposit exploration which are showed by concession holders in their reports (and in their inventories of mineral deposit resources).

Economic resources of brown coal as of 31 December 2018 amount to 1,047.60 million tonnes and increased by 55.02 million tonnes in comparison with 2017. The economic resources changes are connected with: – the elaboration of supplements to deposit development plans, prepared mainly due to exploitation boundaries changes or the better deposit exploration; – the exploitation, the declines resulted from losses and the deposit exploration during the exploitation. There were supplements to deposit development plans established for Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów and Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposits which resulted in economic resources growth in spite of proceeding exploitation – by 75.58 million tonnes.

The brown coal output, according to the data provided by the concession holders, decreased in 2018 by 1,916 thousand tonnes (3.04%) in comparison with the previous year and amounted to 61,144 thousand tonnes. The exploitation from Sieniawa 2 deposit started in 2018. The majority of the output came from Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit (34,644 thousand tonnes which accounted for 56.66% of the domestic production), whereas the exploitation from Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów deposit amounted to 12,180 thousand tonnes (19.92% of the domestic production). The gradually increasing of the output from the Szczerców field compensates the decreases within the Bełchatów field allowing to maintain the stable level of the output for the Bełchatów power station. The production from other deposits accounts for: Turów – 10.78% of domestic production (6,593 thousand tonnes); whereas in the deposits located in the Konin area: Pątnów IV – 5.19% (3,171 thousand tonnes); Tomisławice – 2.78% (1,702 thousand tonnes), Drzewce – 3.18% (1,946 thousand tonnes) and Adamów – 1.30% (796 thousand tonnes). The remaining output came from Sieniawa 1 and Sieniawa 2 deposits and amounted to 111 thousand tonnes (0.18% of the domestic production). In comparison with 2017 the output increased only from Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit: – by 6,839 thousand tonnes (24.60%), moreover, the exploitation from Sieniawa 2 deposit started in 2018 (60 thousand tonnes). In other deposits, there were the output drops recorded: – by 4,544 thousand tonnes (27.21%) from Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów deposit; – by 2,143 thousand tonnes (72.92%) from Adamów deposit (due to the shutting down of the Adamów power plant at the end of 2017 and heading up the exploitation form the deposit for the Pątnów I and II power plants which allows to the better utilization of the resources remaining in the deposit); – by 1,257 thousand tonnes (28.39%) from Pątnów IV deposit; – by 438 thousand tonnes (20.47%) from Tomisławice deposit; – by 276 thousand tonnes (4.02%) from Turów deposit; – by 116 thousand tonnes (5.63%) from Drzewce deposit; – and by 33 thousand tonnes (39.29%) from Sieniawa 1 deposit.

The figure shows changes in the resources and production of brown coal in Poland in the years 1989-2018.

In the Table 3 given below there is the state of resources exploration, the state of deposits development along with the output volumes presented for the whole country.

Table 3. List of brown coal deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Sławomir Mazurek, Marcin Tymiński

2017

In Poland, brown coal deposits occur in younger geological formations, mainly of the Tertiary age. Older brown coal deposits are known to occur also in the Jurassic, Carboniferous and rarely – Cretaceous and Triassic. The brown coals are intermediate in the qualification between hard coal and peat. Their characteristics and properties were markedly influenced by the type of the parent plant material and environment in which they originated.

Brown coal deposits originated both in platform areas and sedimentary basins in orogenic belts. The coals form the extensive seams from a few meters to several dozen meters in thickness. It also occur in the form of lenses. The thickness of overburden is usually quite small which makes the opencast mining of the deposits possible. Seams of older brown coals are often situated too deep below the surface level for the opencast mining and require the underground mining. This is also the case of coal seams occurring in glacitectonic folds. The methods of the underground mining were lately used in Poland to mine coals in Babina and Sieniawa deposits.

There is brown coal deposits occurrying in Poland presented on the map.

Brown coal resources are documented with taking into account the following limit values of the parameters that define the deposit (the opencast mining): the maximum depth of deposit base of 350 m, the minimum brown coal layer thickness in bed of 3 m and the maximum overburden/deposit thickness ratio of 12:1. The minimum weighted-average calorific value in a bed (with intercalations) should equal 6.5 MJ/kg (at the brown coal humidity of 50%). These are the basic criteria of geological-mining parameters and qualitative parameters for energy coals which are common in Polish deposits.

Poland’s anticipated economic resources of brown coal amounted to 23,385.06 million tonnes as of the end of 2017. The majority of resources constitute energy coals, that is 23,384.42 million tonnes, remaining 0.64 million tonnes are bituminous coals. There were also coals usable for the production of briquettes and coals suitable for the production of coal tar and liquid through a distillation documented in the past. Currently, all these coals are used and treated as energy coals only.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of the exploration and development of brown coal deposits in Poland.

Table 1. Brown coal – million tonnes

Anticipated economic resources within exploited deposits amounted to 1,276.41 million tonnes (5.46% of total anticipated economic resources). Brown coal is being exploited by five mines: Bełchatów, Turów, Adamów, Konin and Sieniawa.

About 16% (3,690 million tonnes) of anticipated economic resources constitute the resources of the deposits within the Poznań through. These are Czempin, Gostyń and Krzywin deposits where potentially strip mining is nowadays precluded on the environmental grounds and in connection with a high class and a value of the agricultural lands. These are the main issues to be solved by the local societies, the ecological organizations and the supporters of the deposits development, before the exploitation starts. It might seriously complicate the deposit development in the future.

Table 2 shows basic parameters of non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources exceeding 75 million tonnes.

Table 2. Basic parameters of non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources exceeding 75 million tonnes

Anticipated economic resources of brown coal amounted to 23,385.06 million tonnes in 2017 and decreased by 66.07 million tonnes in comparison with the previous year due to the exploitation and losses. In 2017, there was a new documentation with recalculated resources developed for Koźmin deposit – due to the exploitation end. The remaining resources in the deposit were settled.

Economic resources of brown coal as of 31 December 2017 amounted to 992.58 million tonnes. They decreased by 71.99 million tonnes as a result of the exploitation and losses.

The brown coal output, according to the data provided by the concession holders, increased in 2017 by 2,787 thousand tonnes (4.62%) in comparison with the previous year and amounted to 63,060 thousand tonnes. The majority of the output came from Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit (27,805 thousand tonnes – 44.09% of the domestic production), whereas the exploitation from Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów deposit amounted to 16,734 thousand tonnes (26.54% of the domestic production). The production from other deposits accounts for: Turów – 10.89% of domestic production (6,869 thousand tonnes); Pątnów IV – 7.02% (4,428 thousand tonnes); Adamów – 4.66% (2,939 thousand tonnes), Tomisławice – 3.39% (2,140 thousand tonnes) and Drzewce – 3.27% (2,062 thousand tonnes). The remaining output came from Sieniawa 1 deposit and amounted to 84 thousand tonnes (0.14% of the domestic production). In comparison with 2016 the output increased from 4 deposits: – by 3,870 thousand tonnes (16.17%) from Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit; – by 499 thousand tonnes (3.07%) from Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów deposit; – by 490 thousand tonnes (31.17%) from Drzewce deposit; – and by 14 thousand tonnes (20.00%) from Sieniawa 1 deposit. In other deposits the exploitation dropped: – by 759 thousand tonnes (14.63%) from Pątnów IV deposit; – by 664 thousand tonnes (8.81%) from Turów deposit; – by 149 thousand tonnes (6.51%) from Tomisławice deposit; – and by 1 thousand ton (0.03%) from Adamów deposit. Moreover, the exploitation from Koźmin deposit has not been carried out (in 2016 the output amounted to 513 thousand tonnes).

The figure shows changes in the resources and production of brown coal in Poland in the years 1989-2017.

Table 3. List of brown coal deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Krzysztof Szamałek, Marcin Tymiński

2016

In Poland, brown coal deposits occur in young geological formations, mainly of the Tertiary age. Older brown coal deposits are known to occur also in the Jurassic, Carboniferous and locally even Cretaceous and Triassic in several places in the world. The brown coals are intermediate in qualification between hard coal and peat. Their characteristics and properties were markedly influenced by the type of parent plant material and environment in which they originated.

Brown coal deposits originated both in platform areas and sedimentary basins in orogenic belts. The coals form extensive seams or lenses from a few meters to several dozen meters in thickness. Thickness of overburden is usually quite small which makes opencast mining of the deposits possible.

There are brown coal deposits occurrying in Poland presented on the map.

Seams of older brown coals are often situated too deep below the surface level for opencast mining and require underground mining. This is also the case of coal seams occurring in glacitectonic folds. The methods of underground mining were lately used in Poland to mine coals in Babina and Sieniawa deposits.

Brown coal resources are calculated to the maximum depth of deposit base of 350 m, the minimum brown coal layer thickness in bed of 3 m and maximum overburden/deposit thickness ratio of 12. The minimum weighted-average calorific value in bed (with intercalations) should equal 6.5 MJ/kg (at brown coal humidity of 50%). These are the basic criterias for energy coals which are common in Polish deposits.

Poland’s anticipated economic resources of brown coal amounted to 23,451.13 million tonnes as of the end of 2016. The resources comprise 23,450.49 million tonnes of energy coals, remaining 0.64 million tonnes are bituminous coals. There were also coals usable for production of briquettes and coals suitable for production of coal tar and liquid through distillation documented in the past. Nevertheless, all these coals are used and treated as energy coals only.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of brown coal deposits in Poland.

Table 1. Brown coal – million tonnes

Anticipated economic resources within exploited deposits amounted to 1,353.65 million tonnes (5.77% of total anticipated economic resources). Brown coal is being exploited by five mines: Bełchatów, Turów, Adamów, Konin and Sieniawa.

Strip mining of brown coal from Czempin, Krzywin and Gostyń deposits with total resources of 3,690 million tonnes is nowadays precluded on environmental grounds and in connection with high class and value of agricultural lands in the area of the planned open strip mine. These are the main issues to be solved by local societies, ecological organizations and potential mining companies, before exploitation of these deposits starts.

Table 2 shows basic parameters of major non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources over 75 million tonnes.

Table 2. Basic parameters of major non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources over 75 million tonnes

Anticipated economic resources of brown coal amounted to 23,451.13 million tonnes in 2016 and decreased by 65.06 million tonnes in comparison with the previous year due to the exploitation and losses.

Economic resources of brown coal as of 31 December 2016 amounted to 1,064.57 million tonnes. They decreased by 64.49 million tonnes as a result of the exploitation and losses.

Brown coal output, according to the data provided by the concession holders, decreased in 2016 by 2,862 thousand tonnes (4.54%) in comparison with the previous year and amounted to 60,273 thousand tonnes. The majority of the output came from Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit (23.94 million tonnes – 39.72% of domestic production) and Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów deposit (with production equal 16.24 million tonnes – 26.95% of domestic production). The production from other deposits accounts for: Turów – 12.49% of domestic production (7.53 million tonnes); Pątnów IV – 8.61% (5.19 million tonnes); Adamów – 4.88% (2.94 million tonnes) and Tomisławice – 3.80% (2.29 million tonnes). The remaining production (2.15 million tonnes – 3.56% of domestic production) came from other strip mines (Drzewce – 1.57 million tonnes and Koźmin – 0.51 million tonnes) and from Sieniawa mine (0.07 million tonnes).

The figure shows changes in resources and production of brown coal in Poland in the years 1989-2016.

Table 3. List of brown coal deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Krzysztof Szamałek, Marcin Tymiński

2015

In Poland, brown coal deposits occur in young geological formations, mainly the Paleogene and Neogene. Older brown coal deposits are known to occur also in the Jurassic, Carboniferous and locally even Cretaceous and Triassic in several places in the world. The brown coals are intermediate in qualification between hard coal and peat. Their properties were markedly influenced by the type of parent plant material and environment in which they originated.

Brown coal deposits originated both in platform areas and sedimentary basins in orogenic belts. The coals form extensive seams or lenses a few meters to several dozen meters in thickness. The small overburden thickness makes possible opencast mining of the deposits.

There are brown coal deposits occurrying in Poland presented on the map.

Seams of older brown coals are often situated too deep for opencast mining and require underground mining. This is also the case of coal seams occurring in glacitectonic folds. The methods of underground mining have been lately used in Poland to mine coals in Babina and Sieniawa deposits.

Brown coal resources are calculated to the maximum depth of deposit base of 350 m, the minimum brown coal layer thickness in bed of 3 m and maximum overburden/deposit thickness ratio of 12. The minimum weighted-average calorific value in bed (with intercalations) should equal 6.5 MJ/kg (at brown coal humidity of 50%). These are the basic criterias for energy coals which are common in Polish deposits.

Poland’s anticipated economic resources of brown coals amounted to 23,516.19 million tonnes as of the end of 2015. The resources comprise 23,515.55 million tonnes of energy coals, remaining 0.64 million tonnes are bituminous coals. There were also coals usable for production of briquettes and coals suitable for production of coal tar and liquid through distillation documented in the past. Nevertheless, all these coals are used and treated as energy coals only.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of brown coal deposits in Poland.

Table 1. Brown coal – million tonnes

Anticipated economic resources within exploited deposits amounted to 1,418.70 million tonnes (6% of total anticipated economic resources). Brown coal is being exploited by five mines: Bełchatów, Turów, Adamów, Konin and Sieniawa.

Strip mining of brown coal of Czempin, Krzywin and Gostyń deposits with total resources of 3,690 million tonnes is nowadays precluded on environmental grounds and in connection with high class and value of agricultural lands in area of the planned open strip mine. These are the main issues to be solved by local societies, ecological organizations and potential mining companies, before exploitation of these deposits starts. Table 2 shows basic parameters of major non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources over 75 million tonnes.

Table 2. Basic parameters of major non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources over 75 million tonnes

Anticipated economic resources of brown coal amounted to 23,516.19 million tonnes in 2015 and increased by 5.6 million tonnes in comparison with the previous year. There was new deposit documented in 2015 – Gubin 2 with resources equal 1,033.8 million tonnes and the new documentation with recalculated resources for Dęby Szlacheckie deposit (+54.7 million tonnes) was approved. The new documentations were also elaborated and accepted for three other deposits: Gubin, Gubin 1 and Izbica Kujawska (the total resources decrease equal 1,018.92 million tonnes); exploitation and losses totaled 63.99 million tonnes.

Economic resources of brown coal as of 31 December 2015 amounted to 1,129.06 million tonnes. They decreased by 67.55 million tonnes due to the exploitation and losses.

Brown coal production, according to the data provided by the concession holders, decreased in 2015 by 867 thousand tonnes (1.4%) in comparison with the previous year and amounted to 63,135 thousand tonnes (table 3). The majority of the output came from Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów deposit (25.05 million tonnes – 39.7% of domestic production) and Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit (with production equal 17.03 million tonnes – 27.0% of domestic production). The production from other deposits accounts for: Turów – 11.6% of domestic production (7.33 million tonnes); Pątnów IV – 8.8% (5.58 million tonnes); Adamów – 5.0% (3.13 million tonnes); Tomisławice – 3.8% (2.39 million tonnes). The remaining production comes from other strip mines (Drzewce and Koźmin) and from Sieniawa mine.

The figure shows changes in resources and production of brown coal in Poland in the years 1989-2015.

Table 3. List of brown coal deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Krzysztof Szamałek, Marcin Tymiński

2014

In Poland, brown coal deposits occur in young geological formations, mainly the Tertiary. Older brown coal deposits are known to occur also in the Jurassic, Carboniferous and locally even Cretaceous and Triassic in several places in the world. The brown coals are intermediate in qualification between hard coal and peat. Their characteristics and properties were markedly influenced by the type of parent plant material and environment in which they originated.

Brown coal deposits originated both in platform areas and sedimentary basins in orogenic belts. The coals form extensive seams or lenses a few meters to several dozen meters in thickness. Thickness of overburden is usually quite small which makes possible opencast mining of the deposits.

There are brown coal deposits occurying in Poland presented on the map.

Seams of older brown coals are often situated too deep underground for opencast mining and require underground mining. This is also the case of coal seams occurring in glacitectonic folds. The methods of underground mining were lately used in Poland to mine coals in the Babina and Sieniawa deposits.

Brown coal resources are calculated to the maximum depth of deposit base of 350 m, the minimum brown coal layer thickness in bed of 3 m and maximum overburden/deposit thickness ratio of 12:1. The minimum weighted-average calorific value in bed (with intercalations) should equal 6.5 MJ/kg (at brown coal humidity of 50%). These are the basic criterias for energy coals which are common in Polish deposits.

Poland’s anticipated economic resources of brown coals amounted to 23,510.59 million tonnes as of the end of 2014. The resources comprise 23,509.95 million tonnes of energy coals, remaining 0.64 million tonnes are bituminous coals. There were also coals usable for production of briquettes and coals suitable for production of coal tar and liquid through distillation documented in the past. Nevertheless, all these coals are used and treated as energy coals only.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of brown coal deposits in Poland.

Table 1. Brown coal – million tonnes

Anticipated economic resources within exploited deposits amounted to 1,482.69 million tonnes (6.3% of total anticipated economic resources). Brown coal is being exploited by five mines: Bełchatów, Turów, Adamów, Konin and Sieniawa.

Strip mining of brown coal of the Czempin, Krzywin and Gostyń deposits with total resources of 3,690 million tonnes is nowadays precluded on environmental grounds and in connection with high class and value of agricultural lands in area of the planned open strip mine. These are the main issues to be solved by local societies, ecological organizations and potential mining companies, before exploitation of these deposits starts. Table 2 shows basic parameters of major non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources over 75 million tonnes.

Table 2. Basic parameters of major non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources over 75 million tonnes

Anticipated economic resources of brown coal amounted to 23,510.59 million tonnes in 2014 and increased by 826.61 million tonnes in comparison with the previous year. The main reason was approving the new documentation with recalculated resources for Oczkowice deposit (+853.25 million tonnes).

Economic resources of brown coal as of 31 December 2014 amounted to 1,196.61 million tonnes and increased by 31.94 million tonnes – due to the new mine management plan approved for Bełchatów-p. Szczerców deposit.

Production amounted to 64,002 thousand tonnes in 2014, being 2,137 thousand tonnes lower (3.23%) than in the previous year. The most important is Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów deposit (26.64 million tonnes – 41.6% of domestic production) and Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit (with production equal 15.76 million tonnes – 24.5% of domestic production). The production from other deposits accounts for: Turów – 12.1% of domestic production (7.73 million tonnes); Pątnów IV – 8.4% (5.35 million tonnes); Adamów – 5.0% (3.22 million tonnes); Drzewce – 3.0% (1.89 million tonnes). The remaining production comes from other strip mines and Sieniawa mine.

The figure shows changes in resources and production of brown coal in Poland in the years 1989-2014.

Table 3. List of brown coal deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Krzysztof Szamałek, Marcin Tymiński

2013

In Poland, brown coal deposits occur in young geological formations, mainly the Tertiary. Older brown coal deposits are known to occur also in the Jurassic, Carboniferous and locally even Cretaceous and Triassic in several places in the world. The brown coals are intermediate in qualification between hard coal and peat. Their characteristics and properties were markedly influenced by the type of parent plant material and environment in which they originated.

Brown coal deposits originated both in platform areas and sedimentary basins in orogenic belts. The coals form extensive seams or lenses a few meters to several dozen meters in thickness. Thickness of overburden is usually quite small which makes possible opencast mining of the deposits.

There are brown coal deposits occurying in Poland presented on the map.

Seams of older brown coals are often situated too deep underground for opencast mining and require underground mining. This is also the case of coal seams occurring in glacitectonic folds. The methods of underground mining were lately used in Poland to mine coals in the Babina and Sieniawa deposits.

Brown coal resources are calculated to the maximum depth of deposit base of 350 m, the minimum brown coal layer thickness in bed of 3 m and maximum overburden/deposit thickness ratio of 12∶1. The minimum weighted-average calorific value in bed (with intercalations) should equal 6.5 MJ/kg (at brown coal humidity of 50%) and maximum medium sulphur content equal 2% (for brown coal bed with intercalations and at humidity of 50%). These are the limit values of parameters that defines the deposit and qualitative parameters for energy coals which are common in Polish deposits.

Poland’s anticipated economic resources of brown coals amounted to 22,683.98 million tonnes as of the end of 2013. The resources comprise 0.8 million tonnes of bituminous coal, about 2,390 million tonnes of coals usable for production of briquettes and about 1,418 million tonnes of coals suitable for production of coal tar and liquid through distillation. Nevertheless, all these coals are used and treated as energy coals only.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of brown coal deposits in Poland.

Table 1. Brown coal – million tonnes

Anticipated economic resources within exploited deposits amounted to 1,514.49 million tonnes (6.8% of total anticipated economic resources). Brown coal is being exploited by five mines: Bełchatów, Turów, Adamów, Konin and Sieniawa.

Strip mining of brown coal of the Czempin, Krzywin and Gostyń deposits with total resources of 3,690 million tonnes is nowadays precluded on environmental grounds and in connection with high class and value of agricultural lands in area of the planned open strip mine. Table 2 shows basic parameters of major non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources over 75 million tonnes.

Table 2. Basic parameters of major non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources over 75 million tonnes

Anticipated economic resources of brown coal amounted to 22,683.98 million tonnes in 2013 and increased by 100.15 million tonnes in comparison with the previous year. There was one new deposit documented – Grochowy Siąszyce (with resources equal 48.21 million tonnes).

Economic resources of brown coal as of 31 December 2013 amounted to 1,164.67 million tonnes and decreased by 54.45 million tonnes.

Production amounted to 66,139 thousand tonnes in 2013, being 1,842 thousand tonnes higher (2.86%) than in the previous year. The most important is Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów deposit (32.94 million tonnes – 49.8% of domestic production) and Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit (with production equal 9.12 million tonnes – 13.8% of domestic production). Almost the whole production of the largest brown coal strip mines (Bełchatów, Turów, Adamów and Konin) was used as energy coal in power plants.

The figure shows changes in resources and production of brown coal in Poland in the years 1989-2013.

Table 3. List of brown coal deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Janina Dyląg

2012

Brown coal

In Poland, brown coal deposits occur in young geological formations, mainly the Tertiary. Older brown coal deposits are known to occur also in the Jurassic, Carboniferous and locally even Cretaceous and Triassic in several places in the world. The brown coals are intermediate in qualification between hard coal and peat. Their characteristics and properties were markedly influenced by the type of parent plant material and environment in which they originated.

Brown coal deposits originated both in platform areas and sedimentary basins in orogenic belts. The coals form extensive seams or lenses a few meters to several dozen meters in thickness. Thickness of overburden is usually quite small which makes possible opencast mining of the deposits.

There are brown coal deposits occurying in Poland presented on the map.

Seams of older brown coals are often situated too deep underground for opencast mining and require underground mining. This is also the case of coal seams occurring in glacitectonic folds. The methods of underground mining were lately used in Poland to mine coals in the Babina and Sieniawa deposits.

Brown coal resources are calculated to the maximum depth of deposit base of 350 m, the minimum brown coal layer thickness in bed of 3 m and maximum overburden/deposit thickness ratio of 12∶1. The minimum weighted-average calorific value in bed (with intercalations) should equal 6.5 MJ/kg (at brown coal humidity of 50%) and maximum medium sulphur content equal 2% (for brown coal bed with intercalations and at humidity of 50%). These are the basic balance criterias for energy coals which are common in Polish deposits.

At the end of 2012 Poland’s anticipated economic resources of brown coals amounted to 22,583.83 million tonnes. The resources comprise 0.8 million tonnes of bituminous coal, about 2,390 million tonnes of coals usable for production of briquettes and about 1,418 million tonnes of coals suitable for production of coal tar and liquid through distillation. Nevertheless, all these coals are used and treated as energy coals only. The Bełchatów brown coal deposit from the Piotrków Trybunalski area is the largest and most important and accounts for more than 62% of domestic production of this raw material. The remaining demand for brown coal is covered by production from the Turów open cast mine in vicinities of Bogatynia and the Pątnów and Adamów mines in the Konin area. Works preceding start of exploitation are being continued at the Szczerców brown coal field of the Bełchatów deposit.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of brown coal deposits in Poland.

Table 1. Brown coal – million tonnes

Anticipated economic resources were equal 22,583.83 million tonnes as of 31 December 2012 and decreased by 79.23 million tonnes in comparison with the previous year due to the production and losses in several deposits – Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów, Pątnów, Drzewce, Koźmin, Turów, Bełchatów-pole Szczerców and Adamów (the result of better deposits explorations). In 2012 the Pątnów III – socz. Danków deposit was crossed out from "The balance…”.

Anticipated economic resources within exploited deposits amounted to 1,590.76 million tonnes (7% of total anticipated economic resources).

Strip mining of brown coal of the Czempin, Krzywin and Gostyń deposits with total reserves of 3,690 million tonnes is nowadays precluded on environmental grounds and in connection with high class and value of agricultural lands in area of the planned open strip mine. Table 2 shows basic parameters of major non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources over 75 million tonnes.

Table 2. Basic parameters of major non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources over 75 million tonnes

Production amounted to 64,297 thousand tonnes in 2012, being 1,408 thousand tonnes higher than in the previous year. The most important is Bełchatów-pole Bełchatów deposit (29.19 million tonnes – 45% of domestic production) and Bełchatów-pole Szczerców deposit (with production equal 10.97 million tonnes – 17% of domestic production). Almost the whole production of the largest brown coal strip mines (Bełchatów, Turów, Adamów and Konin) was used as energy coal in power plants.

The figure given below shows changes in resources and production of brown coal in Poland in the years 1989-2012.

Economic resources of brown coal as of 31 December 2012 amounted to 1,219.12 million tonnes and decreased by 67.91 million tonnes.

Table 3. List of brown coal deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Janina Dyląg

2011

In Poland, brown coal deposits occur in young geological formations, mainly the Tertiary. Older brown coal deposits are known to occur also in the Jurassic, Carboniferous and locally even Cretaceous and Triassic in several places in the world. The brown coals are intermediate in qualification between hard coal and peat. Their characteristics and properties were markedly influenced by the type of parent plant material and environment in which they originated.

Brown coal deposits originated both in platform areas and sedimentary basins in orogenic belts. The coals form extensive seams or lenses a few meters to several dozen meters in thickness. Thickness of overburden is usually quite small which makes possible opencast mining of the deposits.

There are brown coal deposits occurying in Poland presented on the map.

Seams of older brown coals are often situated too deep underground for opencast mining and require underground mining. This is also the case of coal seams occurring in glacitectonic folds. The methods of underground mining were lately used in Poland to mine coals in the Babina and Sieniawa deposits.

Brown coal resources are calculated to the maximum depth of deposit base of 350 m, the minimum brown coal layer thickness in bed of 3 m and maximum overburden/deposit thickness ratio of 12∶1. The minimum weighted-average calorific value in bed (with intercalations) should equal 6.5 MJ/kg (at brown coal humidity of 50%) and maximum medium sulphur content equal 2% (for brown coal bed with intercalations and at humidity of 50%). These are the basic balance criterias for energy coals which are common in Polish deposits.

Criterias mentioned above were the basis while assessing prognostic brown coal resources which were calculated to be equal 27,540.71 million tonnes as of 31 December 2009⁽¹⁾. This figure is more than 40% higher than anticipated economic resources calculated as of 31 December 2010. Prognostic resources occur in 90 prognostic deposits or prognostic areas near documented deposits within 7 coal-bearing regions: bełchatowski, koniński, legnicki, łódzki, północno-zachodni, wielkopolski i zachodni. The most important are prognostic resources in satellite deposits for mine-power boards.

At the end of 2011 Poland’s anticipated economic resources of brown coals amounted to 22,663 million tonnes.

Table 1 shows resources and the current state of exploration and development of brown coal deposits in Poland.

Table 1. Brown coal – million tonnes

Anticipated economic resources were equal 22,663.08 million tonnes as of 31 December 2011 and increased by 2,844.21 million tonnes in comparison with the previous year, mostly due to amounts of resources documented in D and higher categories in 9 deposits (3,050.07 million tonnes of new resources).

Anticipated economic resources within exploited deposits amounted to 1,668.42 million tonnes (7% of total anticipated economic resources).

Strip mining of brown coal of the Czempin, Krzywin and Gostyń deposits with total reserves of 3,690 million tonnes is nowadays precluded on environmental grounds and in connection with high class and value of agricultural lands in area of the planned open strip mine. Table 2 shows basic parameters of major non-exploited deposits with anticipated economic resources over 75 million tonnes.

Table 2. Characteristics of major non-exploited brown coal deposits

Production amounted to 62,889 thousand tonnes in 2011, being 6,373 thousand tonnes higher than in the previous year. The most important is Bełchatów deposit (39.77% of domestic production from Bełchatów area and 21.56% of domestic production from Szczerców area). Almost the whole production of the largest brown coal strip mines (Bełchatów, Turów, Adamów and Konin) was used as energy coal in power plants.

The figure given below shows changes in resources and production of brown coal in Poland in the years 1989-2011.

Economic resources of brown coal as of 31 December 2011 amounted to 1,287.03 million tonnes and decreased by 23.92 million tonnes.

Table 3. List of brown coal deposits – thousand tonnes

Prepared by: Janina Dyląg

⁽¹⁾J. R. Kasiński, 2011 – ‘Węgiel brunatny’ w ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31 XII 2009 r.’ pod red. S. Wołkowicza, T. Smakowskiego, S. Speczika. PIG-PIB Warszawa.