The history of “Dębieńska Salt” dates back to 1974, when the Dębieńsko Desalination Plant in Czerwionka-Leszczyny started its operation. Salt is produced in the Dębieńsko Desalination Plant from brines released from the rock mass during mining works conducted in the Budryk Mine and from brines accumulating the underground pits of the decommissioned Dębieńsko Mine. Today, the Plant is owned by Przedsiębiorstwo Gospodarki Wodnej i Rekultywacji [Water Management and Reclamation Enterprise], a member of the JSW Group.
The production process is established on the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR), which focuses on the pursuit of public interests and protection of the natural environment. The retrieval of salt by the Plant enables the Group to avoid the discharge of waters pumped out of the mining areas and characterized by a high content of salt to the Bierawka River and at the same time obtain high quality evaporated salt. “Care for the natural environment has always been among the priorities pursued by Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa. Our desalination system protecting the country’s rivers against excessive salinity is an important element of our efforts in this area,” emphasizes Jan Przywara, CEO of PGWiR.
The Group’s salt evaporation process, using technologies developed in the United States and Sweden, is a unique solution on a European scale. The Plant’s experience of more than 45 years translates into the production of evaporated salt of the highest quality. First, the brines are purified in a multi-stage filtration process. Then, a concentration process is performed with the use of reverse osmosis (RO) filters. At this stage, the volume of brine is halved and the salt concentration doubles. Next, such concentrated brine is subjected to an evaporation process, followed by crystallization and drying (RCC installation). The salt obtained at the end of this series of processes contains approx. 99.4% of NaCl.
The technological solutions applied by the Plant allow us to preserve the desired microelements and minerals, such as magnesium and calcium, in the contents of the product. The constant granulation and low moisture eliminate the need for the use of chemical anti-lumping substances without affecting adversely the shelf life of our products. Our salt has obtained certification as food-grade salt admitted to marketing, issued by the National Institute of Hygiene and the State Sanitary Inspector. In 2018, “Dębieńska Salt” was awarded the Quality Certificate, the TOP PRODUCT title and the Doceń Polskie® [Appreciate Polish Products] promotional emblem.
Every year, Przedsiębiorstwo Gospodarki Wodnej i Rekultywacji processes 1.6 million cubic meters of brine and produces approx. 70 thousand tons of high-quality food-grade salt. A portion of the production volume is diverted to the manufacture of salt tablets for use in water treatment processes and household dishwashers. However, the majority of the production volume ends up on dining tables either in spices or in meat and vegetable products of the largest Polish manufacturers. “While enjoying the taste of their daily meals, few people realize that they are eating salt obtained from mine brines. This is an excellent example of the commercial success of our CSR endeavors aimed at the protection of the natural environment where our environmentally friendly approach and the pursuit of business objectives complement each other so perfectly,” notes CEO Przywara.