Environmental protection

The presence of mining and coking plants in the region contributes to its economic development, provides jobs and feeds local budgets. The industry has to deal with environmental costs related to distorting the landscape, emission of pollutions, mining damages, noise emissions or disturbing the hydrological balance. We strive to continuously improve the state of the environment by taking actions that minimise adverse impact. We are of the opinion that effectiveness of action is the best measure of responsibility for the surroundings.

In 2018, JSW Group did not record any serious failures with an environmental impact and no penalties were imposed on Group companies for infringing environmental protection laws.

JSW Group’s management philosophy includes respect for local communities and the areas they inhabit that are subject to extraction and production activities. We believe that it is our duty to reduce burdens and social costs wherever these cannot be eliminated entirely. At the same time, we feel obligated to compensate the communities for the effects of our adverse footprint. Feeling accountable for areas that JSW withdraws from after mining is complete is a consequence of this type of management mind-set.

Once mining was completed at the Krupiński mine in Suszec and the mine was transferred to the Mine Restructuring Company, we began initiating ideas to maximise the potential of this land by locating JSW Group’s other activities there, including technologically innovative initiatives.

The former Krupiński mine’s location makes it possible to build a residential complex that is self-sufficient in terms of energy and heating due to geothermal energy, which is in line with the governmental housing program Mieszkanie Plus. The residential complex project is subject to the results of geothermal research and plans to construct an underground pumped-storage plant.

Another solution is the Innovation Park, which would provide support to start-ups dedicated mainly to investors operating in and around the Suszec municipality. Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa also has several ideas related to energy projects entitled the „GREEN VALLEY.” This involves the construction of an underground gas storage tank, PV farm installation, EV charging station, thermal energy warehouse and the European Centre for Small Methane-Based Energy. The former Krupiński mine’s areas and facilities are capable of hosting large industrial projects, which will have their own business ecosystems.

The following table contains information on the location and surface area of land, with indication of areas already rehabilitated and still awaiting rehabilitation:

In 2018, JSW performed activities intended to limit the quantity and load of mined saline water discharged to surface waters by maximally using them for mine technological purposes and in underground excavations for fire prevention and the liquidation of obsolete excavations. Unused water from drainage at the Borynia-Zofiówka-Jastrzębie and Pniówek mines was discharged into Odra river using a hydro-technical water protection methodology, i.e. the „Olza” retention and dosage system used by PGWiR. In 2018, 4.8 million m³ of water drained from JSW mines was discharged through the „Olza” system.

JSW Group is performing online monitoring of salt levels in Olza and Odra rivers and surface water monitoring in accordance with the relevant decisions. Water quality monitoring is being conducted similarly as in the case of rehabilitated land.

Consumption of water at JSW

Use of mining waste in road building and transport infrastructure for engineering, construction and hydro-technical purposes

One of the effects of the Group’s mining activities is the generation of extractive waste. In 2018, 10.8 million mg (tonnes) of extractive waste was generated in coal mining and processing. In order to minimise the negative impact of the generated extractive waste on the natural environment and increase revenue through rational management of extractive waste, the Group has undertaken strategic activities including:

• reducing the quantity of waste generated,
• increasing the use of waste in underground mining excavations,
• sale of unprocessed waste,
• production and sale of aggregates produced from waste,
• use of waste in surface mining waste management facilities

JSW also continued with activities related to the use of extractive waste along with power plant waste and saline water for filling and sealing longwall goafs in order to reduce fire and methane risk, reduce methane emissions and land subsidence, improve ventilation conditions and fill in closed-down and sealed-off obsolete mining excavations. Increasing the use of extractive waste in underground mining excavations was mainly achieved through a systematic expansion and modernisation of installations for injecting sealing mixtures.

The optimal use of generated extractive waste in road building and transport infrastructure for engineering, construction and hydro-technical works was achieved by ramping up the production of aggregates at the mines’ processing facilities and subsequent sales.

Extractive waste was managed in extractive waste management facilities on the surface in accordance with local spatial development plants, waste management plans and existing regulations concerning waste management, in ways agreed with local governments.

In all of its extractive waste management facilities, the Group performed tasks related to protecting the environment against any negative impact of extractive waste and to the development of land affected by mining activity in order to rehabilitate it and return its natural and landscape features and re-purposing it.

The main source of greenhouse gas emissions arising from the Group’s activities is CO2 emitted in fuel combustion processes for energy purposes and methane derived from ventilation of mining excavations.

In 2018, JSW Group limited greenhouse gas emissions by maximally using gas from mine methane drainage for energy purposes. As a result of using this methane to generate electric and heating energy in high-efficiency cogeneration systems, methane emissions in 2018 were reduced by approx. 74.8 million m³. Procedures related to the launch of additional engines fuelled by gas from methane drainage at the B4 and Knurów-Szczygłowice mines were also introduced.

In the coking segment, JSW Group is exercising continuous oversight of efficient and rational use of coke oven gas.

In August 2018, the coking plant Koksownia Dębieńsko, which had taken part in the CO₂ emission allowance trading scheme, was decommissioned_. In December 2018, an annual report on CO₂ emissions was prepared, submitted for verification and positively verified by an authorised reviewer. Given JSW KOKS’s participation in the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme for CO₂, the Group is continuously estimating costs that it will have to incur in connection with the operation of its coking units, power plants and heat and power plants in the fourth settlement period, covering years 2021-2030.

The following table contains information on gases and substances emitted into the atmosphere

The nearest Natura 2000 areas from the JSW Ruch Zofiówka mine are: the aforementioned Special Protection Area „Dolina Górnej Wisły” (PLB 240001), which is approx. 7.7km south-east from the Mining Area and Terrain „Jastrzębie Górne I.” The second precious natural area is the Special Area of Conservation „Zbiornik Goczałkowicki – Ujście Wisły i Bajerki” (PLH 240039), located approx. 8.6km south-east of the mining area.

Areas of the landscape park Cysterskie Kompozycje Krajobrazowe Rud Wielkich are located within the mining area „Knurów” (JSW Ruch Knurów). The impact of coal mining on the park is small and does not breach the park’s protection objectives.

The western part (west of river Bierawka) of the mining area „Szczygłowice I” (JSW Ruch Szczygłowice) is located within the area of the landscape park Cysterskie Kompozycje Krajobrazowe Rud Wielkich. The park covers an area of 494km2, with 635km2 of borderline areas, and is one of the largest parks in Poland. 48 species of protected plants have been identified in the park. Natural monuments – single trees: pendunculate oak in Szczygłowice – are located within the mining area. The land within the park is subject to protected for its natural, landscape and cultural values.

The Natura 2000 protected areas found the closest to the JSW Ruch Szczygłowice mine are: Special Area of Conservation ‘Underground Site of Tarnowskie Góry-Bytom’ (PLH 240003), at a distance of approx. 21km north, and Special Area of Conservation Stawy Łężczok (PLH 240010), approx. 22km west.

Several valuable pendunculate oak trees are located near the JSW Pniówek mine in Pawłowice. The landscape park „Cysterskie Kompozycje Krajobrazowe Rud Wielkich”, Special Protection Area „Dolina Górnej Wisły” (PLB240001) and Special Area of Conservation „Zbiornik Goczałkowicki – Ujście Wisły i Bajerki” (PLH240039) are located at some distance from the mine.

Thanks to the Group’s environmental protection efforts, no environmental losses were caused by Group companies in 2018. The Group’s companies also engage in environmental monitoring and the prevention and limitation of the adverse effects of their impact, including through:

• controlling land subsidence
• monitoring the quality of underground and surface waters
• measuring precipitation
• surveying indicator parameters in rainfall water and its use
• measuring pollution emissions