- We all hope that the epidemic in Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa will be limited to the Pniówek mine. I would like to thank the management board and the entire staff as it was only thanks to their efficient actions that the cluster of the epidemic emerged in JSW so late - said Jacek Sasin, Minister of State Assets and added: - Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa is a strategic company not just in Poland but in Europe and the world. It is a leading supplier of coke, which is needed to produce steel, an important commodity when we speak of a modern economy and growth prospects.
Landmark investments are in progress in the Budryk mine forming part of Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa. One of the innovative projects is the application of independent roof bolt support technology. The Bolter Miner 12CM30 manufactured in the United States is modern mining equipment that was delivered to Ornontowice last year and has made it possible to enhance work effectiveness substantially. The roadheader is equipped with a 5.6-meter wide cylindrical cutting head. This equipment cuts up to 20 meters of a roadway per day depending on the mining and geological conditions.
- We intend to sustain all the investment activities under way in our company. The investments in the Budryk mine are a prime example of our efforts. I am convinced that the innovative technologies used in our mines will prove to be a valuable inspiration for the overall mining sector’s development. We are modifying our roadway work, we have employed a roof bolt support system, or a solution that is widely used across the world in the most modern deep shaft mines in the US and Australia, among others - said Włodzimierz Hereźniak, President of the Management Board of Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa.
JSW SA is also running a number of modernization investments in its coal preparation plant. This will make it possible to ramp up the production of coking coal, including type 35 or hard coking coal, whch offers top notch commercial parameters. Last year PLN 31.1 million was spent on just this investment. The completion of all this work is slated for the end of this year even though some process units have already been commissioned. This has enabled the mine to improve the coking coal yield this year with coking coal commanding higher prices on the market. After the completion of this investment, the mine will be poised to diversify its product mix and react flexibly to market demand. On top of changes made on the surface, the first stage of changes to the main underground coal haulage system has been implemented, whereby initial selection (directional dumping) and product quality assessment (regional analyzers) are carried out at the bottom of the mine and, as needed, the winnings are channeled to the appropriate mining level.
- Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa is a company that acts as a shining light in the Polish economy: it has a robust action plan with growth prospects, captured markets, clients and partners. It is important to survive the epidemic. The Company’s management is doing well with new markets and is capable of responding to the present threats and challenges - said Deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin. - Thank you for the visit to the Budryk mine. I would like to thank the staff for its discipline and mobilization in these demanding circumstances.
The Budryk mine is the deepest hard coal mine in Poland at a depth of 1290 m. The total quantity of recoverable coal reserves from this level in the original deposit - in just the 405/1 and 405/2 seams - is estimated to surpass 78 million tons. A total of PLN 282 million was invested in the Budryk mine last year, while more than PLN 543 million was invested from 2016 to 2019. It is worth pointing out that these are not the sole investments and innovative projects under way in the Budryk mine. From the viewpoint of the mine and the Company it is important to secure energy self-sufficiency by utilizing methane through the expansion of installations up to a capacity of 36 MW. The Geo-Methane project under execution with our partner PGNiG is another initiative to lessen the methane hazard and thereby enhance staff safety during future mining activity. In the framework of this project a methane drainage installation will be created using directional boreholes drilled from the surface; production tests related to preliminary methane drainage will also be conducted. These projects are of great significance when it comes to curtailing the harmful environmental impact.
Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa is the largest producer of coking coal in the European Union and a significant producer of coke. The JSW Management Board is steadily strengthening the Company’s position as a leading producer and supplier of coking coal and coke to Europe. JSW is investing in new coal seams because the most important thing for a raw material company like Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa is to ensure access to coking coal resources. The Company intends to do that not just by investing in the deposits that are already accessible, but also by opening up new deposits and new mining levels. JSW presently has 952 million tons of proven recoverable coal reserves, guaranteeing its ability to mine coal on a stable footing for at least 60 years.
