Circular Economy – Challenges for Mining and Power Generation as Exemplified by Poland

The publication analyses and evaluates the impact of the implementation of circular economy on the economy and especially on its mining and power generation sector in Poland. Circular economy is a relatively new concept concerning an innovative economic development model. The publication briefly describes the concept of circular economy. Among other things, the basic economic processes that make up circular economy are discussed. In addition, history is presented as well as examples of legislation that have had the strongest impact on the implementation of circular economy in the EU are identified. Further on in the paper, the impact that circular economy will have on the mining and power generation industry in Poland is discussed. Areas have been identified that will need the most attention in relation to the implementation of circular economy. It was pointed out that in the mining and power generation sector the scale of use of current and landfill waste should be increased as a priority. Attention has been paid to the necessary reduction of water demand and rational water and sewage management. Examples of use of mining gas and ventilation air have been discussed. The publication provides examples of a number of measures taken in accordance with circular economy. It was pointed out that there is still a need to popularize the existing ones and to look for new technical and organizational solutions conducive to the introduction of this new economic model. An important aspect of the impact of the circular economy on these sectors will be the decrease in energy demand resulting from the widespread implementation of the new economic model. For those already struggling with a number of problems of some of the mining and power generation sectors based on coal mining and combustion in Poland, the implementation of circular economy will pose another challenge.