Environmental protection
Concern for the natural environment is understood by the Group as corporate social responsibility towards the local community rather than mere compliance with legal obligations. Responsible operations based on the highest environmental, safety and product quality standards and consistency in implementing environmental tasks constitute priorities for the Group.
The mining industry contributes to the degradation of local natural environment by disrupting the landscape or emitting pollution. Underground mining activities are accompanied by deformations on the surface, which may cause damage to private and public property and disrupt hydrological balance. Add to this storing waste rock that accompanies coal and is extracted together with it at the surface, noise associated with mining operations and dust and gas emissions, especially in the case of coking plants.
The Company's on-going activities intended to minimise its negative impact are a domain of strategic operational management and are meant to ensure environmental safety for nature and the residents of local communities. Just as in other business areas, having an environmental management system is of key significance to proper operations.
Environmental management system
Selected Group companies have implemented separate environmental management systems certified under PN-EN ISO 14001:2015. These companies include JSW KOKS, JZR, PBSz, PGWiR and JSW. In addition, PGWiR has an EMAS environmental management system that complies with the requirements stated in Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) and Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1505 of 28 August 2017 (EMAS III).
An environmental management system makes it possible to identify and supervise all operating areas having actual or potential impact on the natural environment. Each of the companies that have an environmental management system identifies material environmental aspects that have or might have an impact on the environment due to its operations. Every year, an assessment of environmental impacts is carried out on the basis of objective criteria specified in relevant procedures.
Based on an environmental management system policy, activities are continuously undertaken in order to achieve its objectives, including by defining, monitoring and implementing environmental targets. These targets take into account legal and other requirements associated with the operations of each company, material environmental aspects, identified threats and opportunities, financial and technological capabilities and the expectations of interested parties.
At JSW, the environmental management system is part of the integrated quality management system - in compliance with ISO 9001; occupational health and safety in compliance with PN-N - 18001 and information security in compliance with 27001 as regards coal extraction, processing and sale.
A declaration from the President of JSW's Management Board, included in the Integrated management system policy, as regards the environmental management system, states that "Economic activities conducted by JSW are in compliance with legal and other requirements, while the entire coal extraction, processing and sale process is performed in a way that minimises negative impact on the natural environment. Implementing an environmental programme and preventing pollution and failures contribute to a continuous improvement in the state of the environment."
Periodic assessments of compliance with legal and other requirements are conducted at JSW’s Entities, along with assessments of progress in achieving environmental targets and monitoring material environmental aspects. Legal and other requirements are tied to identified environmental aspects, threats and opportunities, interested parties, and they have persons designated for compliance and supervision.
Impact of the Group's operations on the natural environmente
The Group continued its environmental protection activities in compliance with legally-defined environmental conditions, while taking into account the needs of local stakeholders and communities. These activities were focused on exercising continuous oversight and monitoring as well as concern for maximally reducing the scale of environmental pollution, along with all steps necessary to optimally manage areas and natural resources.
The applied solutions and technologies are contributing to the transition toward a circular economy, which is an essential element in creating a low-emission, resource-efficient, innovative and competitive economy that can drive changes in the economic development model, as outlined by the European Commission. The directions defined in the Strategy in the area of using methane for generating electricity, organisational and product carbon footprint, management of post-industrial land, management of salted mining water and manufacture of products with the use of extractive waste for application in infrastructural investments constitute an element of a sustainable business model and will contribute to achieving circular economy priorities and counteracting climate changes.
The Group's good practices are also in line with the key areas of the European Green Deal, including:
- pollution reduction,
- climate protection,
- clean energy,
- circular economy.
Commitment to protecting the natural environment is reflected in activities minimising the negative impact of operations on the environment in the following areas:
- Extractive waste management,
- Management of salted mining water,
- Direct and indirect impact on climate changes,
- Impact of mining operations on the surface,
- Rehabilitation and revitalisation of extractive waste management areas and post-mining areas,
- Emission of gases and particulate matter into the air, including methane emissions,
- Estimating, monitoring and balancing the carbon footprint of the organisation and the coal and coke products.
In 2019, the Group continued its activities in line with the rules defined in the Strategy. To this end, the following environmental protection tasks were performed.
Environmental protection tasks performed in 2019
Water and sewage management
Abstraction of water
Management of mining water constitutes a key and dominating element of JSW Group's water management efforts. Water for drinking and industrial purposes is used at all of the Group's mines, partially derived from own sources and partially purchased from external suppliers. Drinking water is mainly used for social and living purposes and for feeding the underground fire-prevention networks. Industrial water is used at all of the mines for technological and production purposes, i.e. replenishing cooling circuits in compressors, feeding underground fire-prevention pipelines and replenishing water losses in water-and-sludge networks at mechanical coal processing facilities.
Table. Water consumption (million m3)
| ITEM | 2019 | 2018 | CHANGE 2018=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstraction of water: | 20.14 | 19.95 | 101.0 |
| Surface water | 9.27 | 9.20 | 100.8 |
| Drinking water | 0.002 | 0.0011 | 181.8 |
| Industrial water | 9.26 | 9.20 | 100.7 |
| Groundwater | 3.79 | 3.38 | 112.1 |
| Drinking water | 3.79 | 3.38 | 112.1 |
| Industrial water | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Purchase of water | 7.08 | 7.37 | 96.1 |
| Drinking water | 2.18 | 2.64 | 82.6 |
| Industrial water | 4.9 | 4.7 | 104.3 |
| Discharge of rainwater and meltwater | 0.64 | 0.22 | 290.9 |
| into surface water | 0.180 | 0.148 | 121.6 |
| into ground | 0.117 | 0.066 | 177.3 |
| to third parties | 0.344 | 0.008 | 4 300.0 |
| Recovered water | 4.22 | 4.15 | 101.7 |
| Total water consumption: | 22.22 | 21.62 | 102.8 |
| Drinking water | 5.74 | 5.76 | 99.7 |
| Industrial and recovered water | 16.48 | 15.86 | 103.9 |
| Water consumption per unit of revenue (millions m3/PLNm | 0.0026 | 0.0022 |
Human-generated and technological sewage
The Knurów-Szczygłowice and Budryk mines discharge human-generated effluents into a sewage treatment plant operated by PGWiR, while the other mines discharge such sewage into urban or municipal sewage systems.
In order to save water and minimise negative impact on the environment, water for technological purposes at the Group's mines, including for coal enrichment at processing plants and for cooling compressors, is in closed water-and-sludge circuits. Due to the above, no technological sewage is discharged into the environment.
Koksownia Jadwiga, which is owned by JSW KOKS, has closed water and sewage circuits and does not discharge sewage to the outside. All of its human-generated, industrial and rainfall sewage is treated at an in-house sewage treatment plant and is subsequently used for wet cooling of coke. At Koksownia Przyjaźń, treated coking sewage is discharged into the Bobrek river and at Koksownia Radlin this is discharged into the urban sewage network.
Table. Sewage management (JSW Group) (millions m3)
| ITEM | 2019 | 2018 | CHANGE 2018=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total volume of sewage, including: | 23.8 | 23.1 | 103.0 |
| Generated | 17.8 | 16.9 | 105.3 |
| Collected from the outside | 6.0 | 6.2 | 96.8 |
| Sewage management, including: | 23.8 | 23.1 | 103.0 |
| Internally managed | 3.7 | 3.2 | 115.6 |
| Discharged into water or ground | 19.0 | 18.8 | 101.1 |
| Transferred to another entity | 1.11 | 1.15 | 96.5 |
| Significant substances contained in sewage [Mg], including: | 236,981.2 | 258,772.9 | 91.6 |
| Chemical oxygen demand (COD) | 251.4 | 271.8 | 92.5 |
| Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)5 | 11.3 | 10.7 | 105.6 |
| Total nitrogen | 113.3 | 88.0 | 128.8 |
| Suspension | 787.0 | 272.0 | 289.3 |
| Chloride | 226,974.2 | 249,294.6 | 91.0 |
| Sulphates | 8,728.7 | 8,713.3 | 100.2 |
| Total organic carbon (TOC) | 115.3 | 122.5 | 94.1 |
| Sewage generated per unit of revenue (millions m3/PLNm) | 0.0027 | 0.0024 |
Management of salted mining water
Each of the Group's mines performs drainage by pumping out salted mining water into surface reservoirs, where it undergoes mechanical treatment. Mine drainage is conducted on the basis of appropriate water-law permits.
Due to high salt content, mining water must be managed in a way that avoids environmental degradation.
Some of the mining water is used to replenish technological circuits at processing facilities and to produce sealing mixtures applied in underground fire-prevention, along with waste from energy generation processes and post-flotation waste. The remaining portion of mining water must be managed in an environmentally safe way.
Unused water from the Borynia-Zofiówka-Jastrzębie and Pniówek mines is discharged into Odra river in the town of Olza through a retention and dosage system ("Olza collector"), which is owned by PGWiR, based in Jastrzębie-Zdrój.
The collector is intended to protect rivers and smaller tributaries in the Upper Odra catchment area, such as: Ruda, Szotkówka, Jastrzębianka, Ruptawka, Lesznica and Olza and in the Wisła catchment area: Pawłówka and Pszczynka, against salt at a distance exceeding 150km. This makes economic use possible, protects water intakes for communal, industrial and agricultural purposes, e.g. the Łąka industrial water reservoir, an industrial water reservoir at Elektrownia Rybnik, industrial water intake at Olza river.
The functioning of the Olza system limits the volume of water discharged during low flows, even up to a complete stop, in which case the Olza system's retention reservoirs are used. Discharging water collected in these retention reservoirs takes place after rainfall and in conditions of strong flows at Odra river. Salted water is discharged into the river through 51 nozzles located at the bottom throughout the entire width of the Odra riverbed, making it possible to mix the waters on a short section of the river. Inspections of Odra's salt content after discharging mining water are carried out by a monitoring station in Krzyżanowice. Salt content measurements are also taken by PGWiR's water and sewage research laboratory. Retention and discharge functions based on precise monitoring help in reducing Odra's maximum salt content by more than 60%. The retention capacity of the Olza system is approx. 985 000 m3, which is sufficient for two months of collecting salted water during drought.
Sól Dębieńska
Mining water from KWK Budryk is de-salted at a facility in Dębieńsko (JSW Group's PGWiR). The production of the Sól Dębieńska salt is performed in a process of desalination of the highest-quality brines available at depths of up to 1200m. This salt has been underground for thousands of years and is therefore free of pollution, unlike sea salt, for example. Initially, brines are treated in a multi-stage filtration. Next, the brine is concentrated using reverse osmosis filters (RO installation). Concentrated brine is subject to an evaporation process, followed by crystallisation and drying (RCC installation). The salt normally has an NaCl content of 99.4%. This technological process allows for desired micro-elements and minerals to be retained in the product. Constant granulation and a low level of moisture eliminate the need to apply anticaking agents. Aside from edible salt, road salt is also produced and sold. As a result of this process, highly salted water pumped from mining areas is not discharged into the Bierawka river, and high-quality evaporated salt is obtained.
The use of salt from salted mining water is beneficial for the environment because there is no need to extract a certain volume of rock salt in traditional salt mines (66.9 thousand tonnes of salt was produced in Dębieńsko in 2019).
Unused water from draining the Knurów-Szczygłowice mine was discharged in a controlled manner into surface waters in accordance with conditions specified in the existing laws and the relevant water-law permits.
PGWiR is consistently improving the Olza retention and discharge system and the desalination installation in Dębieńsko by continuously performing modernisation and repair works.
Table. Salted mining waters (JSW) (million m3)
| ITEM | 2019 | 2018 | CHANGE 2018=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managed | 1.7 | 1.3 | 130.8 |
| Discharged to environment | 3.8 | 3.7 | 102.7 |
| Discharged to desalination facility | 2.4 | 2.3 | 104.3 |
| Discharged to Olza collector | 4.9 | 4.8 | 102.1 |
| Total | 12.8 | 12.1 | 105.8 |
Waste management, including extractive waste
The Group's waste management practices in 2019 involved the use of a waste management hierarchy, limiting the negative impact of waste on human life and health and the environment, including in manufacturing products as well as during and after their use. All waste management methods were performed using the best available techniques and technologies.
Extractive waste
In coal exploitation and enrichment processes at in-mine mechanical coal processing facilities, Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa generates significant quantities of extractive waste (approx. 10-11 million Mg per year on average), with much lower quantities of hazardous waste and waste other than hazardous. This is due to the specific nature of the operations - extraction and sale of coking coal, and the geological and mining conditions at the mines, as well as strict quality requirements for the production of commercial coal, especially concentrate for coking purposes.
Waste generated during exploitation is defined by the Ordinance of the Minister of Climate of 2 January 2020 on the waste catalogue, as either group 01 - waste generated in exploration, extraction, physical and chemical processing of ores and other minerals:
- 01 01 02 – wastes from mineral non-metalliferous excavation
- 01 04 12 – tailings and other wastes from washing and cleaning of minerals other than those mentioned in 01 04 07 and 01 04 11
- 01 04 81 – wastes from flotation enrichment of coal other than those mentioned in 01 04 80.
Due to its genesis, it is divided into waste related to deposit access/preparatory works (code 01 01 02) and waste generated in mechanical coal processing facilities (code 01 04 12 and 01 04 81). The share of 01 01 02-coded waste in total volume is relatively small, unlike the processing waste. It is generated due to the necessity to separate waste rock from the commodity.
The same three types of sedimentary stone are present at all of JSW's mines, in various compositions, depending on the variability of the geological deposit and surrounding rock, deposit exploitation levels and the group of geological layers. Therefore, in petrographical terms, extractive waste includes:
- sandstones, with various grain sizes and clay adhesives (carbonate),
- mudstones, the most frequently found, with an amorphous structure, containing layers of carbon substances.
- shales, consisting of a clay fraction stone with an addition of mudstone.
The Company strives to very rationally approach the subject of generating and managing waste. This is one of the more important issues due to environmental, social, legal, technical and economic aspects. Nonetheless, due to the significant quantity of extractive waste, a limited scope for its application, properties as well as transport and logistics problems, there is still no guarantee for its full use (recovery). This is why activities protecting the existing storage capacities for waste management purposes on the surface and securing new ones are so important.
To this end, an Extractive waste management strategy was put in place in October 2019. The strategy aims to indicate the directions and means for handling waste that is generated by JSW's mining facilities.
In 2019, in the area of extractive waste management as well as the rehabilitation and development of land transformed as a result of mining activities, the Group continued to apply the means of production or forms of services and commodities and raw materials that made it possible to prevent waste from being generated or maintain its quantity at the lowest possible level.
All of these activities were conducted in accordance with the waste management hierarchy, in a way that limits the negative impact of waste on human life and health and on the environment through optimal spatial management and natural resource management, with particular emphasis on the rehabilitation and revitalisation of areas and land transformed by mining activities.
Activities related to the use of extractive waste together with power-plant waste and salted water to seal-off goafs and rock piles were continued in order to combat fire and methane hazards, reduce methane emissions and land subsidence, improve ventilation conditions and fill in abandoned and sealed-off mining excavations that are no longer needed.
The use of extractive waste in underground mining excavations is increased by a systematic expansion and modernisation of installations for injecting sealing mixtures. Intensifying action to produce crushed rock in the mines’ coal preparation plants and to sell it provided for an optimal use of extractive waste in highway and road construction, in civil engineering and hydro engineering projects. Aggregates are produced in compliance with technical approvals obtained on the basis of decisions held by the mines.
Managing extractive waste at the surface, in mining waste management, plants was compliant with the local zoning plans, waste management plans and currently prevailing waste management regulations according to the directions agreed with local government units.
In all the facilities for managing extractive waste, work was conducted to protect the environment against the negative effects of accumulated extractive waste and to develop areas affected by mining operations to revitalise them and to reinstate their natural and scenic values that will serve local communities in the future, including green areas and forests and sport and leisure facilities.
Extractive waste management facilities were covered by technical and biological reclamation and greening methods guaranteeing a rapid and sustainable achievement of the intended environmental effects.
Table. Extractive waste management (JSW) (million Mg)
| ITEM | 2019 | 2018 | CHANGE 2018=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation of extractive waste, including: | 12.1 | 10.8 | 112.0 |
| - shaft stone (01 01 02) |
0.1 | 0.1 | 100.0 |
| - stone from mechanical coal processing facilities (01 04 12 |
11.2 | 10.0 | 112.0 |
| - flotation tailings (01 04 81) |
0.8 | 0.7 | 114.3 |
| Extractive waste management on surface | 11.2 | 9.9 | 113.1 |
| Management of aggregates on surface | 0.76 | 0.74 | 102.7 |
| Extractive waste management under ground | 0.086 | 0.116 | 74.1 |
| Management of aggregates under ground | 0.002 | 0.002 | 100.0 |
Other waste
JSW Group generates tens of thousands of Mg of hazardous waste and waste other than extractive and hazardous waste each year. Compared to extractive waste, this waste constitutes a small percentage of all waste generated by the Group's facilities.
Hazardous waste mainly includes:
- used oil waste,
- sludges from biological treatment of industrial sewage,
- used cleaning agents and spent batteries.
Waste other than extractive and hazardous waste generated at the Group's facilities mainly includes:
- scrap,
- wood,
- rubber,
- plastic,
- spent electric and electronic devices.
The Group segregates and selectively stores this waste in a way that prevents any negative impact on the environment and human health.
In 2019, activities intended to reduce waste generation "at the source" were continued, preventing the generation of waste or allowing it to be maintained at as low a level as possible. Works on ensuring higher efficiency in selective waste management were also conducted.
Waste that for technological, ecological or economic reasons was not processed on site was systematically transferred, in accordance with the waste management hierarchy and the best available techniques or technologies, to the nearest sites where it could be processed. Recovery processes were the main methods for handling waste. Disposal operations were deployed to a smaller extent. The waste management method is selected mainly on the basis of information from waste processing service providers.
Transport of hazardous waste (ADR)
In the transport of hazardous waste (ADR), standards and methodologies compliant with the requirements listed in ADR are applied.
Table. Volume of waste (JSW Group) (million Mg)
| ITEM | 2019 | 2018 | CHANGE 2018=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total quantity of hazardous waste generated | 0,0127 | 0,0074 | 171,6 |
| Total quantity of waste other than hazardous | 12,19 | 10,81 | 112,8 |
| Hazardous waste collected by other entities | 0,0016 | 0,0018 | 88,9 |
| Waste other than hazardous collected by other entities | 0,134 | 0,195 | 68,7 |
| Waste generation per unit of revenue (millions Mg/PLNm) | 0,0014 | 0,0011 |
Biodiversity
The Group's facilities are not located within or in the immediate vicinity of areas of special natural value, such as national parks, nature reserves or Natura 2000 areas.
Numerous areas of special natural or landscape value, covered by various types of protection, are found in the less direct vicinity (from several to over a dozen kilometres from a JSW Group facility), including:
- Nature reserves: Las Dąbrowa (KWK „Knurów-Szczygłowice”), Segiet (Koksownia Jadwiga), Dolina Żabnika (Koksownia Przyjaźń) and Góra Chełm (Koksownia Przyjaźń),
- Natura 2000 Special Protection Areas for birds: Dolina Górnej Wisły PLB240001 (KWK „Borynia-Zofiówka-Jastrzębie”, KWK „Pniówek”) and Stawy Wielikąt i Las Tworkowski PLB240003 (Koksownia Radlin),
- Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation: Zbiornik Goczałkowicki - Ujście Wisły i Bajerki PLH240039 (KWK „Borynia-Zofiówka-Jastrzębie”, KWK „Pniówek”), Pierściec PLH240022 (KWK „Pniówek”), Podziemia Tarnogórsko – Bytomskie PLH240003 (Koksownia Jadwiga), Graniczny Meander Odry PLH240013 (Koksownia Radlin), Łąki Dąbrowskie PLH240041 (Koksownia Przyjaźń), Łąki w Sławkowie PLH240043 (Koksownia Przyjaźń), Lipienniki w Dąbrowie Górniczej PLH240037 (Koksownia Przyjaźń), Torfowisko Sosnowiec-Bory PLH240038 (Koksownia Przyjaźń), Pustynia Błędowska PLH120092 (Koksownia Przyjaźń), Ostoja Środkowojurajska PLH240009 (Koksownia Przyjaźń), Pleszczotka PLH120092 (Koksownia Przyjaźń), Armeria PLH120091 (Koksownia Przyjaźń), Łąki w Jaworznie PLH240042 (Koksownia Przyjaźń),
- Landscape parks: Cysterskie Kompozycje Krajobrazowe Rud Wielkich (KWK „Borynia-Zofiówka-Jastrzębie”, KWK „Knurów-Szczygłowice”, KWK „Pniówek”, KWK „Budryk”, Koksownia Radlin), Orlich Gniazd (Koksownia Przyjaźń) as well as Dolinki Krakowskie (Koksownia Przyjaźń),
- Animate and inanimate natural monuments (all JSW Group facilities).
An environmental impact assessment is carried out for all investments that under the existing laws may potentially have a substantial impact on the natural environment.
Experts from various fields (such as ornithology, botany) are involved in these works, identifying potential hazards and recommending solutions to mitigate the effects of a given investment as much as possible.
Table. Charakterystyka terenów cennych przyrodniczo zlokalizowane w pobliżu od zakładów Grupy JSW
Other environmental issues, including compliance with environmental protection rules
The Group's companies have an established formal and legal status. Compliance with regulations was confirmed by inspections carried out in 2019 by the Inspectorate for Environmental Protection, Mining Authority and independent auditors from an accredited entity as part of the ISO 14001 system.
In 2019, JSW Group did not record any major failures with an environmental effect, environmental losses resulting from operations, and no fines were imposed on Group companies for breaching environmental protection laws. JSW Group companies also undertake activities related to the monitoring of the state of the environment as well as preventing and limiting their negative impact.
Contracts for supplies, services and construction works include provisions concerning respect for the environment and compliance with environmental protection laws, including waste management and responsibility for environmental damages.
Expenditures on environmental protection
Table. Expenditures on environmental protection (JSW Group) (PLNm)
| ITEM | 2019* | 2018* | CHANGE 2018=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees for use of the environment | 3.5 | 4.1 | 85.4 |
| Fees for water services | 14.5 | 15.7 | 92.4 |
| Protection of water against salination | 26.9 | 23.6 | 114.0 |
| Rectification of mining damages | 101.1 | 75.8 | 133.4 |
| Investments in environmental protection | 76.6 | 44.5 | 172.1 |
| Rehabilitation | 0.6 | 1.0 | 60.0 |
| Total | 223.2 | 164.7 | 135.5 |
| Per unit of revenue (PLNm/PLNm) | 0.026 | 0.017 |
Ecological investments
In 2019, JSW spent PLN 59.5 million on investments in environmental protection.
The key tasks in this area include:
In 2019, JSW KOKS spent PLN 9.8 million on investments in environmental protection.
The key tasks in this area include:
Koksownia Radlin:
- Modernisation of biological sewage treatment plant - PLN 0.6 million,
- Modernisation of coke extinguishing tower - PLN 2.4 million,
- Construction of rainfall reservoir - PLN 0.1 million.
Koksownia Przyjaźń:
- Construction of air-tight installation for BTX separation - PLN 0.6 million,
- Sound-proofing facilities and equipment - PLN 0.6 million.
Koksownia Jadwiga:
- Construction of coke oven gas desulphurisation installation - PLN 0.3 million,
- Air-tightening of carbon derivatives section - PLN 2.8 million,
- Modernisation of coke extinguishing tower - PLN 2.5 million
- .
In 2019, PGWiR spent PLN 7.3 million on investments in environmental protection.
The key tasks in this area includeą:
- Modernisation of sorting and bagging buildings' façade at the Desalination Facility - PLN 1.5 million,
- Modernisation of working compressor unit S.C.-40 - PLN 2.1 million,
- Expansion of Z-17 pumping facility at ul. Dębina in Jastrzębie-Zdrój - PLN 1.1 million.
The other JSW Group companies did not carry out major ecological investments due to the nature of their activities.
Impact of mining activities
The most important aspect of relations between a mining enterprise and the local community is an efficient process for repairing and rectifying mining damages caused by mine operations. In order to reduce risks related to this, appropriate control mechanisms are in place to identify this risk, including activities such as:
- coordinating activities related to the preparation of: geological work project, geological, hydrogeological and geological and engineering documentation, deposit management project and mine operations plan.
- locations at risk of mining damages are identified based on a deposit exploitation schedule, eventual or one that is included in the operations plan,
- supervising compliance with concession provisions and environmental decisions,
- performing geodesy and construction monitoring,
- monitoring progress in rectifying mining damages in quantity and cost terms in monthly and annual intervals,
- monitoring the amount of financial provisions created for claims related to mining damages,
- cooperating with local authorities as part of working teams under the auspices of the Director of the District Mining Authority,
- excluding land from development or deposits from exploitation,
- undertaking prevention measures intended to retain the gravitational flow of surface waters,
- applying construction prevention as regards appropriately securing the existing and new construction structures (including technical infrastructure) within the mining area.
The legal obligation to rectify damages caused by mine operations results directly from chapter VIII "Responsibility for damages" in the Geological and Mining Law of 9 June 2011. Nonetheless, JSW's internal regulations play a key role in the process of rectifying mining damages. Rectification projects related to damages for public, local government or private objects are prepared in accordance with a procedure specified in Ordinance 38/IX/2017 from the President of JSW's Management Board of 20 December 2017 - Appendix 2 "Regulations for proceeding with rectification of damages" and Appendix 3 "Regulations for the Committee to Assess Damage-Rectification Projects."
A synthetic measure of the scale of activities related to mining damages and their rectification includes:
- amount spent on removing the damages,
- number of repair tasks completed.
In 2019, JSW's mines implemented a plan to rectify damages caused by mine operations by performing tasks worth PLN 101.1 million in total (taking into account SRK's liabilities - PLN 3.9 million). For comparison, in 2018 JSW's mines implemented a plan to rectify damages caused by mine operations by performing tasks worth PLN 75.8 million.
In 2020, JSW's mines secured PLN 123.7 million in funding for damage rectification.
Rectification of mining damages
Table. Expenditures on rectification of mining damages (JSW) (PLNm)
| ITEM | 2019* | 2018 | CHARGE 2018=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public sector | 40.5 | 26.8 | 151.1 |
| Private sector | 41.9 | 34.7 | 120.7 |
| Local government sector | 14.8 | 14.3 | 103.5 |
| Total | 97.2 | 75.8 | 128.2 |
Table. Number of tasks concerning rectification of mining damages (JSW)
| ITEM | 2019 | 2018 | CHARGE 2018=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public sector | 81 | 73 | 111.0 |
| Private sector | 1,089 | 883 | 123.3 |
| Local government sector | 94 | 81 | 116.0 |
| Total | 1,264 | 1,037 | 121.9 |
Development of post-mining areas
Shutting down mining operations, as was the case with KWK Krupiński, which was transferred to SRK, means that a vacuum is created. This is why from a social point of view it is important to economically used land that had previously served mining purposes.
Jastrzębskie Zakłady Remontowe, a JSW Group company, has executed a contract with Budimex to build a set of production and repair halls in Suszec. JZR's investment is the first stage of a planned construction of a modern industrial centre at the former Krupiński mine site. This facility is intended to meet the new technical conditions in 2021 for the energy efficiency of buildings with ecological solutions such as: photovoltaic panels and heat pumps as sources of thermal energy and air-conditioning in selected rooms of the building. These production halls will be equipped with specialised, highly efficient machinery and equipment.
On 4 October, an agreement was signed regarding rehabilitation of the former KWK Krupiński mine. The agreement involves investments in post-mining areas and the creation of new jobs in the municipality.