Status of coal mining and coal preparation in Poland

Abstract

The Report presents information on the occurrence of hard coal in Poland. Two coal basins are described, in which underground coal mining is currently taking place: the Lublin Coal Basin (LZW) and the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (GZW). For these two coal basins, general information is given concerning geological resources and their structure, as well as the types and average quality properties of the extracted coal. The Polish hard coal mining industry is currently in crisis due to the decrease in coal prices on international markets. Now (2015) a new restructuring programme of coal companies operating on the Polish market is being implemented. The programme assumes significant changes in the ownership and organisational structure. On the background of this information some issues of hard coal preparation in Poland are presented (Blaschke Z. 2001). Technological layouts of typical preparation plants are shown (in Poland, different technological systems are used for preparation of steam coal and coking coal). Beneficiation of large, medium and fine coal is discussed. Specification of various machines for coal beneficiation is given, as well as a description of equipment for auxiliary operations. The systems for slurry-water management are also described (Blaschke W.S. 2010, 2013).