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.
The environmental management system
Selected companies from the Group have implemented separate environmental management systems certified for compliance with the PN-EN ISO 14001:2015 standard. In addition, PGWiR has implemented the EMAS environmental management system, which satisfies the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organizations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) and Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1505 of 28 August 2017 (EMAS III). PGWiR has been entered on the national EMAS register by the General Directorate for Environmental Protection. The environmental management system enables the identification and oversight over all areas of activity that have or are likely to have an impact on the environment. Each of the companies which has implemented an environmental management system identifies significant environmental aspects, i.e. the aspects that have or may have an impact on the environment resulting from their activities. Every year the environmental aspects are evaluated based on objective criteria adopted in specific procedures.
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.
GROUP’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IN 2021
In 2021, the Group worked on the preparation of JSW Group’s Environmental Strategy up to 2030 with an Outlook to 2050, which provides for a reduction in GHG emissions by 2050 as a response to the new challenges of the ongoing regulatory changes and clarification of the Group's role in the environmental, energy and climate transformation of Poland and the European Union. It assumes continuation of integrated activities for environmental protection, conducted in conformity with environmental conditions defined by law, taking into account the ongoing transition changes, needs of local stakeholders and the local community. Four key areas have been identified, with key directions for action in each of them:
| JSW GROUP ENGAGEMENT AREA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Air protection and emissions reduction | Respect for water and biodiversity | Waste management | Land rehabilitation |
| Reduce our carbon footprint by 30% by 2030, compared to 2018 Increase of methane capture and use for energy generation |
Rational water management Care for the quality of water discharged into the environment |
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 | Carrying out activities in the field of rehabilitation and management of areas transformed as a result of mining activities in order to restore them and to restore their natural and landscape values |
The solutions and technologies used ensure transformation towards circular economy (“CE”) being an indispensible element of development of a low-emission, resource-saving, innovative and competitive economy, expected to contribute to changing the economic development model defined by the European Commission. The directions of efforts defined in the Strategy in the area of utilization of methane for production of electricity, carbon footprint of the organization and the product, management of post-industrial areas, management of underground saline water and manufacture of products with the use of mining waste for applications in infrastructural projects constitute an element of a sustainable business model and contribute to execution of CE priorities and combating climate changes. The Group’s best practices are also aligned with the key areas of the European Green Deal which include, among others: reduction of pollution, climate protection, clean energy and circular economy.
The activity in the mining industry displays a significant indirect impact o the conducted operations on consumption of natural resources, waste production, energy and fuel consumption and atmospheric emissions. Coal mining is accompanied by inseparable mining of methane as an accompanying mineral constituting a greenhouse gas impacting our climate. We strive to capture and utilize as much methane as possible, however due to miner safety considerations we cannot avoid its emissions together with the ventilation air from the upcast shafts.
Water and wastewater management
Water usage
All Group’s mines use: drinking water (used primarily for human consumption and supplying the fire network underground) and industrial water (for technological and production purposes, i.e. replenishing shortages in compressor cooling systems, supplying fire pipelines underground and replenishing water losses in the water and sludge circulation in the coal processing plants).
| WATER CONSUMPTION IN THE GROUP (million m3) | 2021 | 2020 | GROWTH RATE 2020=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water usage: | 21,06 | 20,21 | 104,2 |
| Surface water | 10,52 | 9,29 | 113,2 |
| Potable water | 0,0000 | 0,0041 | 0,0 |
| Industrial water | 10,52 | 9,28 | 113,4 |
| Underground water | 3,45 | 3,54 | 97,5 |
| Potable water | 3,45 | 3,54 | 97,5 |
| Purchase of water | 7,09 | 7,38 | 96,1 |
| Potable water | 2,45 | 2,38 | 102,9 |
| Industrial water | 4,64 | 5,0 | 92,8 |
| Discharge of storm and thaw water | 0,35 | 0,29 | 120,7 |
| into surface water | 0,323 | 0,268 | 120,5 |
| into the soil | 0,022 | 0,023 | 95,7 |
| to third parties | 0,008 | 0,003 | 266,7 |
| Recovered water | 4,71 | 4,30 | 109,5 |
| Total water consumption: | 23,79 | 22,53 | 105,6 |
| Potable water | 5,47 | 5,7 | 96,0 |
| Industrial and recovered water | 18,32 | 16,83 | 108,9 |
| Water consumption per unit of revenue – million m3 / pln million | 0,0022 | 0,0032 | 68,8 |
Municipal and technological wastewater
The Knurów-Szczygłowice and Budryk mines discharge municipal wastewater into the wastewater treatment plants operated by PGWiR and the remaining mines discharge municipal waste water into the city or municipality sewage system. To save water and minimize the negative impact on the environment, technological water used in the Group’s mines among others, for coal enrichment in coal preparation plants and cooling of compressors, is in closed water and sludge circuits. Consequently, technological wastewater is not discharged into the environment. JSW KOKS’s Jadwiga Coking Plant has closed water and sludge circuits. All municipal, industrial and rain wastewater is treated in the in-house wastewater treatment plant and the used in the coke wet quenching process. In the Przyjaźń Coking Plant treated coking wastewater is discharged into the Bobrek river, and in the Radlin Coking Plant into the municipal treatment system.
| Wastewater management (jsw group) (million m3) | 2021 | 2020 | GROWTH RATE 2020=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total quantity of wasterwater, including: | 24,7 | 24,4 | 101,2 |
| Generated | 19,4 | 18,4 | 105,4 |
| Collected from the outside | 5,3 | 6,0 | 88,3 |
| Wasterwater management, including: | 24,7 | 24,4 | 101,2 |
| Management with own resources | 3,8 | 3,5 | 108,6 |
| Discharged into the water or into the soil | 19,6 | 19,7 | 99,5 |
| Discharged into another entity | 1,33 | 1,15 | 115,7 |
| Significant substances in the wastewater [mg], including: | 236 792,7 | 249 226,4 | 95,0 |
| COD | 246,3 | 250,8 | 98,2 |
| BZT5 | 8,8 | 10,8 | 81,5 |
| Total nitrogen | 112,9 | 195,6 | 57,7 |
| Suspension | 289,2 | 319,1 | 90,6 |
| Chlorides | 228 011,8 | 238 453,4 | 95,6 |
| Sulfates | 8 026,0 | 9 856,3 | 81,4 |
| TOC | 97,7 | 140,4 | 69,6 |
| Wastewater emission per unit of revenue – million m3 / pln million | 0,0023 | 0,0035 | 65,7 |
Salinated underground water management
In each Group mine salinated underground water is drained into sedimentation tanks on the surface, where it is subject to mechanical treatment. Mines are drained on the basis of the water rights permits they hold. Due to the high level of salination, it is vital to manage the underground water in such a way as to prevent degradation of the environment. Some of the salinated water is used to replenish the technological circuits of the coal preparation plants and to make sealing mixtures used for fire prevention underground together with waste from energy production and post-flotation waste. Unused water from the Borynia-Zofiówka, Jastrzębie-Bzie and Pniówek mines are discharged into the Odra river in Olza through a retention and dosage system under the name of the “Olza” collector owned by PGWiR. Mine water from KWK Budryk is desalinated in the plant in Dębieńsko (PGWiR).
Dębińska Salt is produced through a process of desalination of top quality brines available at the depth of as much as 1200 m. This is salt that has been deposited underground for thousands of years and is not polluted like, for example, sea salt. The technological solutions applied by the plant allow us to preserve the desired microelements and minerals in the contents of the product. The constant granulation and low moisture eliminate the need for the use of anti-lumping substances. Road salt is also offered on top of salt for consumption. As a result of the process no highly salinated water pumped out from the mining areas is discharged into the Bierawka river and, at the same time, high quality evaporated salt is obtained. The use of salt from the salinated mine water is good for the environment as it reduces the need for mining a specific volume of rock salt in traditional salt mines (in 2021 Dębieńsko produced over 67 thousand tons of salt).
| Salted mining waters (jsw) (million m3) | 2021 | 2020 | GROWTH RATE 2020=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managed | 2,0 | 1,8 | 111,1 |
| Discharged to environment | 4,5 | 4,3 | 104,7 |
| Discharged to desalination facility | 2,4 | 2,6 | 92,3 |
| Discharged to Olza collector | 5,1 | 4,8 | 106,3 |
| Total | 14,0 | 13,4 | 103,7 |
Waste management
In 2021, the Group continued to manage waste taking into account the waste hierarchy, reducing its negative impact on human life and health and on the environment, including in manufacture of products, and during and after their use. All waste handling methods were conducted taking into account the best available techniques and technologies.
Mining waste
During the operation and coal preparation process in the mine coal preparation plants, JSW generates significant volumes of mining waste (on average approx. 11 million Mg per annum); hazardous and non-hazardous waste is generated to a much smaller extent. This is caused by the uniqueness of the conducted business and geological and mining conditions appearing in the mines and high quality requirements imposed on production of commercial coal, in particular the concentrate for the needs of the coking industry. The waste from operation is defined on the basis of the Regulation issued by the Minister of Climate of 2 January 2020 on the Waste Catalog, belonging to group 01 – i.e. waste generated in prospecting, mining and physical and chemical processing of ores and other minerals. Due to their origin its is divided into waste associated with opening and preparatory works (code 01 01 02) and generated in mechanical coal preparation plants (code 01 04 12 and 01 04 81). The share of waste with code 01 01 02 in the total mass is relatively small, as opposed to the so-called processing waste.
Mining waste management follows the binding legal regulations stipulated by the European and Polish law, as well as the Company’s in-house regulations. This is performed in accordance with the environmental protection regulations, in clearly specified directions, in a rational and planned manner, but above all taking into consideration economic and social circumstances, technological conditions and those connected with circular economy (CE) assumptions. The Group is aware that sustainable use of resources on which circular economy is based is the key for safe management of mining resources. Therefore this is one of the most important issues, primarily because of the aforementioned environmental, social, legal, technological and economic aspects.
Having regard for the above, in October 2019 a decision was made to draw up and implement the Mining waste management strategy. It identifies the directions and specifies the methods of handling the waste generated in JSW’s mines. The strategy discusses and defines in detail current and near-future directions of mining waste management, specifies waste management process optimization measures as well as proposals of prospective directions.
The most important current directions pursued in 2021 included:
- production and sale of mining aggregates to external buyers,
- production and inhouse utilization of mining aggregates,
- recovery of waste in waste management facilities,
- recovery of waste in reclamation areas,
- neutralization of waste in the CSOG facility,
- utilization of mining waste and rock minerals for rectification of mining damage, filling out land that has been disfavorably transformed,
- sale and in-house utilization of unprocessed waste.
In 2021, with regard to mining waste management, land reclamation and development of areas transformed by mining operations the Group continued to use the production methods and service forms, and raw materials and other materials that made it possible to prevent generation of waste or keep its level as low as possible.
Activities were continued associated with utilization of mining waste and power plant waste and salinated water for filling and sealing goaf of caving longwalls in order to combat fire and methane hazards, limit emission of methane and land subsidence, improve ventilation conditions and fill liquidated and redundant dammed mining pits. An increase in the amount of utilized waste in the underground mining pits was carried out through a systematic extension and upgrade of sealing mixture injection installations.
Intensifying action to produce crushed rock in the mines’ coal preparation plants and sell it provided for the optimum utilization of mining waste in highway and road construction, civil engineering and hydro engineering projects. Production of aggregates was carried out in accordance with the Domestic Technical Evaluations obtained and based on decisions held by the mines. The Group plans to obtain another Domestic Technical Evaluation for the aggregates produced, making it possible to enlarge the scope of their application.
Mining waste management in the mining waste management plants on the surface was done safely for the environment and 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 extraction waste, work was conducted to protect the environment against the negative effects of the accumulated extraction waste and to develop the areas affected by the mining operations to revitalize them and to reinstate their natural and scenic values that will serve local communities in the future, as maintained green areas and forests and sport and leisure facilities. The mine waste management facilities were covered by technical and biological reclamation and greening methods guaranteeing a rapid and sustainable achievement of the intended environmental effects.
|
MINING WASTE MANAGEMENT |
2021 | 2020 | GROWTH RATE 2020=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation of mining waste, including: | 12,4 | 11,6 | 106,9 |
| - Shaft stone ( 01 01 02 ) | 0,127 | 0,093 | 136,6 |
| - Coal Preparation Plant stone ( 01 04 12 ) | 11,5 | 10,7 | 107,5 |
| - Flotation tailings ( 01 04 81 ) | 0,81 | 0,84 | 96,4 |
| Managing mining waste underground | 11,4 | 10,6 | 107,6 |
| Managing aggregates on the surface | 0,83 | 0,88 | 94,3 |
| Managing mining waste underground | 0,134 | 0,141 | 95,0 |
| Managing aggregates underground | 0,0013 | 0,0010 | 130,0 |
Other waste
The Group segregates and selectively stores the waste produced in a manner that makes it impossible for the waste to exert an adverse impact on the environment and human health. In 2021 efforts were continued to reduce waste “at the source”, preventing the generation of waste or making it possible to keep the generation thereof as low as possible. Work was also done to ensure the enhanced effectiveness of selective waste management.
ADR – carriage of dangerous waste
In the case of conduct of activity in the area of carriage of dangerous goods – ADR, standards and methodologies in accordance with the requirements specified in ADR regulations are applied.
|
WASTE VOLUME (GROUP) (MILLION Mg) |
2021 | 2020 | GROWTH RATE 2020=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total volume of generated hazardous waste | 0,0077 | 0,0067 | 114,9 |
| Total volume of generated non-hazardous waste | 12,45 | 11,70 | 106,4 |
| Hazardous waste collected from another entity | 0,0015 | 0,015 | 100,0 |
| Non-hazardous waste collected from another entity | 0,233 | 0,055 | 423,6 |
| Waste emission per unit of revenue – million Mg / PLN million | 0,0012 | 0,0017 | 70,6 |
Biodiversity
The Group’s plants do not operate in areas, or in direct vicinity of areas with special nature value, such as national parks, nature reserves or Natura 2000 areas. Further on in the vicinity there are numerous sites with high nature or landscape value, subject to different forms of protection, including:
- Nature Reserves: Babczyna Valley (PGWiR – Łąka industrial water intake), Żubrowisko (PGWiR – Łąka industrial water intake), Rotuz (PGWiR – Łąka industrial water intake), Dąbrowa Forest (KWK Knurów-Szczygłowice), Segiet (Jadwiga Coking Plant), Żabnik Valley (Przyjaźń Coking Plant) and Mount Chełm (Przyjaźń Coking Plant).
- Natura 2000 Special Bird Protection Areas: Upper Vistula Valley PLB240001 (KWK Borynia-Zofiówka, KWK Jastrzębie-Bzie, KWK Pniówek) PGWiR – Łąka industrial water intake), Ponds in Brzeszcze PLB120009 (PGWiR – Łąka industrial water intake) and Wielikąt Ponds and Tworkowski Forest PLB240003 (Radlin Coking Plant, PGWiR – Godów industrial water intake and outlet of the Olza collector).
- Natura 2000 Special Habitat Protection Areas: Forest near Tworków PLH 240040 (PGWiR - Olza Collector Outlet), Goczałkowicki Lake - Wisła and Bajerka River Mouth PLH240039 (KWK Borynia-Zofiówka-Jastrzębie-Bzie, KWK Pniówek), Pierściec PLH240022 (KWK Pniówek), Tarnogórsko – Bytomskie Underground Passages PLH240003 (Jadwiga Coking Plant), Odra Border Meander PLH240013 (Radlin Coking Plant), Dąbrowskie Meadows PLH240041 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Sławków Meadows PLH240043 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Fen Orchids in Dąbrowa Górnicza PLH240037 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Sosnowiec-Bory Bog PLH240038 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Błędowska Desert PLH120092 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Środkowojurajska Refuge PLH240009 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Pleszczotka PLH120092 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Armeria PLH120091 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Jaworzno Meadows PLH240042 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant).
- Scenic Parks: Cysterskie Kompozycje Krajobrazowe Rud Wielkich [Rudy Landscape Park] (KWK Borynia-Zofiówka-Jastrzębie, KWK Jastrzębie-Bzie, KWK Knurów-Szczygłowice, KWK Pniówek, KWK Budryk, Radlin Coking Plant, PGWiR - Łąka water intake, Desalination Plant, Olza Collector Outlet)), Orlich Gniazd [Eagles’ Nests Landscape Park] (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), and Dolinki Krakowskie [Kraków Valleys] (Przyjaźń Coking Plant).
- Animate and inanimate natural monuments (all Group plants).
For all investment projects which, in accordance with binding provisions of law, may potentially have significant impact on the natural environment, a environmental impact assessment is carried out. The work involves experts from different areas (e.g. ornithology, botanics), who identify potential risks and present recommended solutions mitigating the impact of the project.
No environmental losses caused by JSW Group companies were recorded in 2021. No serious failures with an environmental effect were recorded, including discharges of substances. No major fines for violating environmental laws were imposed on any JSW Group company.
Distance of areas of high natural value from JSW Group's facilities
|
JSW Group Entity |
Form of environmental protection |
Name |
Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Borynia |
Natural reserve |
- |
- |
|
Landscape park |
7,47 |
||
|
8,05 |
|||
|
National park |
- |
- |
|
|
NATURA 2000 |
13,74 |
||
|
14,43 |
|||
|
Zofiówka |
Natural reserve |
- |
- |
|
Landscape park |
8,72 |
||
|
10,93 |
|||
|
National park |
- |
- |
|
|
NATURA 2000 |
10,19 |
||
|
11,85 |
|||
|
Jastrzębie-Bzie |
Natural reserve |
- |
- |
|
Landscape park |
12,31 |
||
|
12,80 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
NATURA 2000 |
12,96 |
||
|
Pniówek |
Natural reserve |
- |
- |
|
Landscape park |
5,84 |
||
|
8,75 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
NATURA 2000 |
7,51 |
||
|
8,08 |
|||
|
12,70 |
|||
|
Budryk |
Natural reserve |
- |
- |
|
Landscape park |
11,82 |
||
|
3,96 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
Protected landscape area |
0,62 |
||
|
0,66 |
|||
|
0,96 |
|||
|
1,39 |
|||
|
1,77 |
|||
|
Csog |
Natural reserveNatural reserve |
- |
- |
| Landscape park |
8,69 |
||
|
1,90 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
Knurów |
Natural reserve |
11,52 |
|
|
11,88 |
|||
| Landscape park |
5,05 |
||
|
3,02 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
Szczygłowice |
Natural reserve |
12,64 |
|
|
13,20 |
|||
| Landscape park |
4,50 |
||
|
w obszarze |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
Jadwiga |
Natural reserve |
7,68 |
|
|
7,88 |
|||
| Landscape park |
- |
- |
|
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
NATURA 2000 |
5,47 |
||
|
Radlin |
Natural reserve |
- |
- |
| Landscape park |
4,87 |
||
|
8,29 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
NATURA 2000 |
11,44 |
||
|
14,70 |
|||
|
Przyjaźń |
Natural reserve |
13,02 |
|
|
13,16 |
|||
|
13,52 |
|||
| Landscape park |
2,24 |
||
|
7,97 |
|||
|
13,49 |
|||
|
14,8 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
NATURA 2000 |
3,47 |
||
|
3,98 |
|||
|
8,12 |
|||
|
8,41 |
|||
|
8,54 |
|||
|
9,49 |
|||
|
10,95 |
|||
|
12,11 |
|||
|
14,65 |
|||
|
PGWIR |
Natural reserve |
7,80 |
|
|
8,35 |
|||
|
8,43 |
|||
|
8,62 |
|||
| Landscape park |
8,87 |
||
|
11,22 |
|||
|
NATURA 2000 |
2,60 |
||
|
13,56 |
|||
|
5,64 |
|||
|
18,58 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
PGWIR |
Natural reserve |
- |
|
| Landscape park |
- |
||
|
NATURA 2000 |
14,43 |
||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
PGWIR |
Natural reserve |
- |
|
| Landscape park |
w obszarze |
||
|
7,84 |
|||
|
NATURA 2000 |
- |
- |
|
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
PGWIR |
Natural reserve |
- |
|
| Landscape park |
14,52 |
||
|
12,05 |
|||
|
NATURA 2000 |
4,54 |
||
|
1,99 |
|||
|
6,48 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
Characteristic of areas of high natural value located near JSW Group's sites
| Protected area | Type of JSW Group location |
Surface area |
Characteristic of species present in the area |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Natura 2000 - Dolina Górnej Wisły PLB240001 |
KWK „Borynia-Zofiówka” KWK „Jastrzębie-Bzie" KWK „Pniówek" PGWiR - industrial water intake Łąka |
Natura 2000 area - 24740.2ha |
This area is one of the most important breeding and migration sites for over 160 bird species, which constitutes over 70% of the domestic population of breeding birds. The site consists of the lake Jezioro Goczałkowskie and nearby fish ponds established more than 600 years ago. There are at least 29 bird species from Annex 1 to the Birds Directive and Annex II to the Habitats Directive, and 8 species in the Polish Redbook, such as: great crested grebe, purple heron, little bittern, great bittern, lesser grey shrike, whiskered tern, black-crowned night heron, Mediterranean gull, black tern, common tern. This is an internationally-recognised bird site. |
|
Natura 2000 - Stawy Wielikąt i Las Tworkowski PLB240003 |
Koksownia Radlin |
Natura 2000 area - 914.5ha |
This area encompasses a complex of over a dozen old fish ponds with an overall surface area of approx. 400ha, situated in the Odra valley, with adjacent meadows, pastures and fields and the Las Tworkowski forest. The pond shores feature common reed, while the levees feature old deciduous trees. The site features more than 20 bird species from Annex I to the Birds Directive and other valuable and threatened bird species, including: white-tailed eagle, western marsh harrier, white and black stork, great egret, black woodpecker, middle spotted woodpecker, grey-headed woodpecker, whooper swan. |
|
Natura 2000 area - Stawy w Brzeszczach PLB120009 |
PGWiR - industrial water intake Łąka |
Natura 2000 area - 3065.9ha |
This area encompasses a complex of over a dozen old fish ponds with an overall surface area of approx. 160ha. The ponds are surrounded by forests, meadows, pastures and fields. The aquatic and marsh vegetation consists of 260 species of vascular plants (including yellow water lily, white water lily and salvin fern), as well as thistle, orchids and common ivy in the rare cluster of thistle meadows. The ponds are a major refuge for birds, including night herons, little bitterns and white terns. There are 14 bird species from Annex I to the Birds Directive in the refuge, along with 6 species of other valuable and threatened birds (not listed in the Directive). |
|
Natura 2000 area - Las koło Tworkowa PLH240040 |
PGWiR - Olza collector outlet |
Natura 2000 area - 115.1ha |
The area is situated in the Odra river valley and encompasses a small section of broadleaved and riparian forests. These are well-preserved and environmentally valuable stands with numerous old-growth sections. The refuge constitutes one of the key areas for maintaining the continuity of the Odra ecological corridor. There are six types of habitats important from the European viewpoint, which cover almost the entire area of the refuge. Central European oak-hornbeam forests and multi-species riparian forests dominate here. Some of this land is also covered by priority riparian forests and riverside willow shrubs. The refuge is home to six bird species of importance to the protection of European nature, including corncrake, grey-headed woodpecker and middle-class woodpecker. Two plant species from the Polish Red Book have also been found at the refuge. These are very rare orchids - blue helleborine and polabian helleborine. |
|
Natura 2000 - Zbiornik Goczałkowicki - Ujście Wisły i Bajerki PLH240039 |
KWK „Borynia-Zofiówka” |
Natura 2000 area - 1650.3ha |
The site encompasses the south-western section of lake Jezioro Goczałkowickie along with the Wisła and Bajerka estuaries. This area features riparian forest sections, willow shrubs, wet forests and reed and meadow sections. The area is an important site for water and water-and-land species listed in Annex II to the Habitats Directive and Annex I to the Birds Directive, including: European weatherfish, European fire-bellied toad, Northern crested newt, Eurasian otter, Western marsh harrier. Other aspects of high natural value within this area include rare phytocoenoses in Poland with lots of floating fern and common frogbit, along with plenty of water-and-mud birds. |
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Natura 2000 - Pierściec PLH240022 |
KWK „Pniówek” |
Natura 2000 area - 1702.1ha |
This area includes a breeding colony for lesser horseshoe bat at an old mill in Pierściec and a feeding area for this specie. The lesser horseshoe bat is a bat listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. |
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Natura 2000 - Podziemia Tarnogórsko-Bytomskie PLH240003 |
Koksownia Jadwiga |
Natura 2000 area - 3490.8ha |
This area includes underground excavations left over after heavy metal ore mining, which is the second-largest bat winter site in Poland, numbering at least over a dozen thousand bats. Eight species of bat have been identified, including one - greater mouse-eared bat - found in Annex I of the Habitats Directive. |
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Natura 2000 - Graniczny Meander Odry PLH240013 |
Koksownia Radlin |
Natura 2000 area - 156.6ha |
This area covers a naturally meandering section of the Odra valley together with fragments of valuable river shore sites (riparian forest, willow shrubs, reed, wet meadows). - 6 types of habitats from Annex I of the Habitats Directive. There are two species of invertebrates from Annex II of the Habitats Directive, including the priority specie of beetle - hermit beetle - and other rare and threatened invertebrates. |
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Natura 2000 - Łąki Dąbrowskie PLH240041 |
Koksownia Przyjaźń |
Natura 2000 area - 384.8ha |
This area is very important in terms of retaining and protecting this habitat in the region. Wet meadows still cover a rather large area (approx. 50ha), featuring high diversity and constituting a habitat for multiple valuable species, including protected and endangered species. Purple moor-grass meadows and accompanying herb vegetation constitute a major habitat for scarce large blue and dusky large blue (Annex II of Habitats Directive). |
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Natura 2000 - Łąki w Sławkowie PLH240043 |
Koksownia Przyjaźń |
Natura 2000 area - 51ha |
This area exceptionally valuable plant communities in terms of both fauna and flora. There is a mosaic of meadow habitats (purple moor-grass meadows and fresh meadows) and wetland habitats, with very rich flora. This includes: Siberian iris, globeflower, marsh gentian, marsh helleborine, white adder's mouth, adder's-tongue, gladiolus imbricatus, bogbean, meadow restharrows, tofieldia. Eight species of butterfly have been identified here. Species listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive are noteworthy: short-tailed blue and silver-studded blue. |
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Natura 2000 - Lipienniki w Dąbrowie Górniczej PLH240037 |
Koksownia Przyjaźń |
Natura 2000 area - 296.5ha |
An area with diverse habitats, in particular: bogs, wet meadows, reed, riparian forests, regular forests and coniferous swamps. |
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Natura 2000 - Torfowisko Sosnowiec-Bory PLH240038 |
Koksownia Przyjaźń |
Natura 2000 area - 2ha |
This area features low and transition bogs with a range of rare and protected vascular plant species as well as species characteristic of high bogs. A large population of fen orchid (specie listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive) is found here. |
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Natura 2000 - Pustynia Błędowska PLH120092 |
Koksownia Przyjaźń |
Natura 2000 area - 1963.9ha |
This ecosystem is unique in Europe. This is the largest inland area of sand in central Europe with interesting forms typical of desert landscapes (dunes). |
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Natura 2000 - Ostoja Środkowojurajska PLH240009 |
Koksownia Przyjaźń |
Natura 2000 area - 5767.6ha |
This area is of significance as a valuable grouping of diverse and unique habitats - a total of 16 types of habitat from Annex I of the Habitats Directive have been identified. Among the vast forests, noteworthy are Dentario enneaphylli-Fagetum and Acer pseudoplatanus L. sections, located in the north-eastern boundaries. This is also an important habitat for rare plant and animal species (eight species from Annex II of the Habitats Directive). Numerous species of bat spend winters in the caves, such as lesser horseshoe bat, pond bat, brown long-eared bat. There is also the richest substitute section of endemic Cochlearia polonica. |
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Natura 2000 - Pleszczotka PLH120092 |
Koksownia Przyjaźń |
Natura 2000 area - 4.9ha |
Post-mining areas where 90% of the surface is taken up by calamine grasslands (a habitat listed in Annex I to the Habitats Directive), very rare in the country. |
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Natura 2000 - Armeria PLH120091 |
Koksownia Przyjaźń |
Natura 2000 area - 7.4ha |
Post-mining areas featuring calamine grasslands (a habitat listed in Annex I to the Habitats Directive). |
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Natura 2000 - Łąki w Jaworznie PLH240042 |
Koksownia Przyjaźń |
Natura 2000 area - 36.5ha |
This area exceptionally valuable plant communities in terms of both fauna and flora. Wet meadows are a habitat for protected, threatened and locally rare vascular plant species. These include: gladiolus imbricatus, Siberian iris, marsh gentian, fen orchid (listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive). The meadows are home to 15 species of butterfly, including two blue species (Annex II of the Habitats Directive) |
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Babczyna Dolina nature reserve |
PGWiR - industrial water intake Łąka |
nature reserve - 76.25ha |
The purpose of protection in the reserve is to preserve, for scientific, educational and landscape purposes, the natural biocenotic systems characteristic of river valleys located near the watershed of the Vistula and Odra rivers, in the western part of the Oświęcim Basin. |
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European bison nature reserve |
PGWiR - industrial water intake Łąka |
nature reserve - 744.77ha |
The objective is to protect a bison (Bison bonasus) population for scientific, educational and tourism purposes. |
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Rotuz nature reserve |
PGWiR - industrial water intake Łąka |
nature reserve - 40.63ha |
The nature reserve's objective is to retain forest peatbogs along with fragments of swamp forest and wet forest for scientific, teaching and landscape purposes. |
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Las Dąbowa natural reserve |
KWK „Knurów-Szczygłowice” |
nature reserve - 76.6ha |
The reserve's objective is to retain multi-species Carpinion betuli and riparian forests, along with a wealth of fauna and flora species, for scientific, natural, teaching and landscape purposes. |
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Segiet natural reserve |
Koksownia Jadwiga |
nature reserve - 24.5ha |
The reserve's objective is to retain sections of a primeval beech forest, along with a wealth of fauna and flora species, for scientific, teaching and landscape purposes. |
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Dolina Żabnika natural reserve |
Koksownia Przyjaźń |
nature reserve - 48ha |
The reserve's protection objective is to retain water biocoenosis and low and transition bogs with protected and rare species for scientific, teaching and landscape purposes. |
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Góra Chełm natural reserve |
Koksownia Przyjaźń |
nature reserve - 23.5ha |
The reserve's protection objective is to retain primeval beech forest sections on a limestone hill near the edge of Kraków-Częstochowa Upland for scientific and teaching purposes. |
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Rudy Landscape Park |
KWK „Borynia-Zofiówka” |
landscape park - 49387ha |
The purpose for establishing this park, covering forests, rivers and ponds, farming land and buildings, is to retain and protect natural, natural and cultural, cultural and recreational qualities and values. |
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Eagles' Nests Landscape Park |
Koksownia Przyjaźń |
landscape park - 60807.2ha |
The Park's objective is to protect natural, historic, cultural and landscape values, including characteristic elements of inanimate nature, protection the natural diversity of fauna and flora, retain natural and semi-natural plant sections, with particular emphasis on xerothermic, bog vegetation and wet meadows, as well as to retain ecological corridors. |
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Kraków Valleys Landscape Park |
Koksownia Przyjaźń |
landscape park - 620,686.1ha |
The Park's objective is to protect natural, historic, cultural and landscape values, including characteristic elements of inanimate nature, protection the natural diversity of fauna and flora, retain natural and semi-natural plant sections, with particular emphasis on xerothermic, bog vegetation and wet meadows, as well as to retain ecological corridors. |
Characteristic of areas of high natural value located near JSW Group's facilities
Other environmental issues including compliance with environmental protection rules
Compliance with the regulations has been confirmed with the results of inspections carried out in 2021 by Environmental Inspection, Mining Authority and independent auditors of an accredited entity under the ISO 14001 system. In 2021 the Group did not record any major breakdowns with environmental impact and no major penalties were imposed on any Group companies for breach of environmental protection regulations. Supply, service and construction works contracts include provisions on environmental conservation and acting in compliance with the provisions of broadly understood environmental protection, including waste management and liability for environmental damage
Expenditures on environmental protection
Table. Expenditures on environmental protection (JSW Group) (PLNm)
| ITEM | 2021* | 2020* | DYNAMIKA 2020=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental usage fees | 4,4 | 3,6 | 122,2 |
| Fees for water services | 15,0 | 15,3 | 98,0 |
| Waste management | 80,6 | - | - |
| Protection of water against salination | 29,3 | 27,8 | 105,4 |
| Repairing mining damage | 102,2 | 99,7 | 102,5 |
| Investments for environmental protection | 170,1 | 126,1 | 134,9 |
| Land-reclamation work | 0,3 | 1,1 | 27,3 |
| Total | 401,9 | 273,6 | 146,9 |
| Per unit of revenue (PLNm/PLNm) | 0,038 | 0,039 | 97,4 |
* the figure is the sum of fees due for water services and environmental fees for the given year.
ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY INVESTMENTS
In 2021, JSW spent PLN 88.3 million on environmentally-friendly investments. The key tasks in this area included:
- Economic utilization of methane – Szczygłowice Section of KWK Knurów-Szczygłowice (PLN 20.1 million),
- Economic utilization of methane – Knurów Section of KWK Knurów-Szczygłowice (PLN 2.6 million),
- Construction of a co-generation unit for the Main Plant of the Budryk Mine (PLN 27.3 million),
- Extension of the methane drainage station and building cogeneration systems in KWK Budryk mine - shaft VI (28.1 million PLN),
- Muffling the facilities of the KWK Pniówek Mine (PLN 3.4 million).
In 2021, JSW KOKS spent approx. PLN 75 million on environmentally-friendly investments, i.e. over 440% more compared to 2020. The key tasks in this area included:
- in the Przyjaźń Coking Plant: completion of an encapsulated installation for the separation of benzol in facility 254 (PLN 0.12 million), construction of a flue gas denitrogenation unit on the boiler of the CHP Plant – 71 MWe power unit (PLN 22.9 million), construction of a flue gas denitrification plant on a boiler at the Power Plant - 27 MWe power unit (PLN 0.52 million).
- At the Jadwiga Coking Plant: construction of an oxygen bioreactor1 (PLN 0.82 million), construction of a coke oven gas metering system in the rail car thawing facility (PLN 0.2 million).
- At the Radlin Coking Plant: modernization of the drainage system of the post-rafination resin storage yard (PLN 0.25 million), construction of the second line of the CDA and SRCM plant with an acid absorption column (PLN 50.2 million).
In 2021, PGWiR spent approx. PLN 10.3 million on environmentally-friendly investments. The key tasks in this area included:
- Reconstruction and modernization of the desalination plant (PLN 5.5 million),
- Modernization of the rainwater drainage system (PLN 1.1 million),
- Modernization of the water intake and pipeline system (PLN 0.8 million),
- Modernization of the underground water pipeline system (PLN 1 million),
JSW also earmarks funds for the statutory activity of local associations, supports cultural activity and education and supports employees in difficult life situations. The parent company actively collaborates with universities, schools and pre-schools.
JSW launched an educational portal nowakopalniawiedzy.pl on which educational materials are available on the usage of hydrogen, responsible consumption and electromobility. JSW employees and sports clubs collaborating with the company were involved in creating this portal.
Sports are also an important area of social life in the region. That is also why the Parent Company has been supporting top level professional sports and amateur sports for years. Through promotion it supports the development of the region, builds positive relations with the local communities, and wins the recognition and friendliness of the public. In 2021 JSW allocated PLN 13.7 million to sponsoring activity spanning contracts with sports clubs.
The operational level of charitable activity is managed by the JSW Foundation, which was set up for this purpose.
Impact of mining activities
An efficient process for rectification and remediation of mining damage caused by the operation of a mine is clearly the most important from the perspective of proper relations between the mining company and the local community. Appropriate controls regarding the materialization of risk are applied to mitigate these risks, which include, among others, measures such as:
- coordinating activities associated with preparation of: geological works program, geological and hydrological documentation, geological engineering documentation, deposit development plan and operations plan,
- places in jeopardy of mining damages are designated on the basis of the deposit extraction schedule, the target schedule and the section for which a given plan is prepared,
- oversight over compliance with provisions of concessions and environmental decisions,
- land survey and construction monitoring,
- monitoring the performance of rectification of mining damage, in terms of quantities and costs, on a monthly and annual basis,
- monitoring of the financial provision added for mining damage liabilities,
- cooperation with local government units within consultation teams, under the auspices of representatives of the Regional Mining Authority,
- exclusion of land from development or a deposit from mining,
- mining damage prevention activities to make sure that gravitational flow of surface water is preserved,
- application of preventive measures at the construction stage in order to properly secure the existing buildings and newly built buildings (including technical infrastructure) erected on mine areas.
Procedures related to rectification of damages
The legal obligation to rectify damages caused by the operation of the mine follows directly from Chapter VIII “Liability for damages” of the Geological and mining law of 9 June 2011. However a key role in the process of remediation of mining damages is played by relevant JSW’s internal regulations. Individual remedial projects associated with the rectification of damages to public, local government and private property are prepared for execution based on the procedure specified in the Damage Remediation Bylaws and Bylaws of the Committee for Evaluation of Damage Remediation Projects.
Completed tasks associated with repairing mining damage
The synthetic measures showing the scale of activities related to mining damage and their rectification include: the amount spent on repairs and the number of repairs made. In 2021, JSW mines fulfilled the plan of repairs of the damages related to the operation of mines, performing tasks for the total amount of PLN 102.2 million (including SRK’s liabilities – PLN 2.3 million). For comparison, in 2020 tasks for the total amount of PLN 99.7 million were executed.
| TASKS RELATED TO RECTIFICATION OF MINING DAMAGES | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUBLIC SECTOR | LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECTOR | PRIVATE SECTOR | |||
| 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 | 2021 | 2020 |
| 52 tasks | 59 tasks | 65 tasks | 51 tasks | 1 332 tasks | 896 tasks |
| 26,8 PLN mln | 33,2 PLN mln | 31,5 PLN mln | 16,2 PLN mln | 41,6 PLN mln | 44,8 PLN mln |
For 2022, JSW mines secured funds to repair damages in the amount of PLN 111.1 million.