Poland Coal Mines

According to the German think tank, Ember, seventy percent of methane leaks from Europe’s active coal mines, take place in Poland. Polish coal mines are also among the largest methane emitters after Russia and Kazakhstan. The lignite power plant in Belchatow, Poland is widely regarded as the largest single air polluter in Europe, having emitted 38.3 million metric tons of C02 into the atmosphere in 2018. The mine was responsible for the equivalent of 56.7 million tons of carbon dioxide (one ton of methane is estimated to have an impact comparable to around 86 tons of CO2) due to methane leaks.

More than two thirds of methane extracted in Poland comes from coal seams and more than 900 million cubic meters of methane is emitted annually during coal excavating. According to data published by the Higher Mining Office in Katowice, the amount of methane in the Poland’s coal mines dropped from 916.1 million cubic meters in 2018 to 803.8 million cubic meters in 2019. Approximately one third of the methane emitted by Polish mines is captured in special installations, while unfortunately the rest is released into the atmosphere. In 2019, 301.6 million cubic meters of methane was removed as part of demethylation process, compared to 317 million cubic meters in the previous year. However, the efficiency of methane removal has increased from 34.6% to 37.5%, resulting in a decrease of the total volume of methane.  In 2019, 189.1mn cubic meters of methane was used as a fuel in the power plants, compared to 203.1mn cubic meters in 2018.

In autumn of 2020, Jastrzebie Coal Group (JSW), the owner of the Knurow mine installed three power systems to utilize the methane captured its coal seams. The Knurow mine has the highest methane index in the Polish mining industry, leaking approximately 210 cubic meters per minute. The Knurow investment is part of JSW’s investment program, reported to be worth more than $75 million, with an aim to increase the effectiveness of methane use through the production of electricity, heat and cooling power. The program envisions launching methane powered cogeneration systems with a 48-megawatt capacity, and to construct the accompanying infrastructure. The investments are co-financed by a loan obtained from the European Investment Bank.

For more information contact office.warsaw@trade.gov.