Low-rank coals in Poland: prospection - mining - progress

Low-rank coal resources occur in Poland commonly within Tertiary deposits. Miocene coal-bearing deposits are most substantial; resources related to them are located in the eight lignite-bearing regions with total quantity above 40 bill. Mg. Origin of major lignite deposits are tectonic and subrosional. Coal of the 4 economic seams belongs to the hypolignite group and is of rather good quality. Lignite in Poland is exploited from more than two hundred years. Recently, four large mines operate in central Poland (Adamów, Bełchatów and Konin) and south-eastern Poland (Turów). They produce about 60 mil. Mg of lignite per year. Almost whole coal is used as energy resource for five mouth-mine power plants, producing ca. 52 mil. MWh annually, and covering ca. 40% of Poland recent requirements. This energy is the cheapest one in Poland. Small amounts of lignite cover local requirements, and are used for production of valuable fertilisers. Also by-products: ceramic and kaolin clays, bentonite, quartz sand and aggregate, and bog-lime are selectively exploited. The Legnica region is regarded as the most probable new operating mining area in the future. Complex technologies applied recently allow to substantially decrease environmental impact of mining, and the reclaimed areas are returned to agriculture and forestry. Final excavations are used as waste storage areas, and part of them is transformed into scenic lakes. Proper environmental protection and reclamation procedures are extremely important, because future of lignite mining development depends on its social acceptance.