MINEX Forum

Tag: Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa

  • Polish Parliament Speaker Szymon Holownia Visits Budryk Mine

    Polish Parliament Speaker Szymon Holownia Visits Budryk Mine

    The Speaker of the lower house of the Polish Parliament, Szymon Holownia, recently met with miners working at the Budryk mine – part of Jastrzebska Spólka Weglowa (JSW). During his visit, Speaker Holownia learned about the operations of the mine and the entire JSW, which produces coking coal – a raw material on the EU’s list of critical raw materials necessary for steel smelting.

    Before visiting the mine, the Speaker underwent the necessary training to authorize him to go underground. He was then accompanied by Ryszard Janta, President of the JSW Management Board, Adam Rozmus, Vice-President of the JSW Management Board for Technical and Operational Matters, Krzysztof Baranowski, Director of the Budryk mine, and Wieslaw Chylek, Technical Director of the mine. Together, they descended to the 1290 m level via shaft VI, the deepest level in coal mines in Poland, where the temperature of the rock mass reaches almost 50°C.

    From the shaft, the group proceeded by suspended cable cars to the area of the Bw-3 longwall, the main purpose of the visit. After a 300 m walk from the passenger station, the Speaker of the Sejm and his attendants stood at the entrance of the Bw-3 longwall. It took several minutes to walk along the 200 m longwall, where mining was underway, followed by a march to the 1000 level and a trip to the surface.

    “What I saw today made a huge impression on me and will definitely stay with me. Visits such as this one teach respect and humility towards people who do a difficult and responsible job, who go down and up five days a week for 25 years. I hope that you will always be accompanied by luck and God’s protection,” said Szymon Holownia immediately after leaving the mine.

    “I did not come here to present plans or to spin a vision. I came to listen, to see the mining reality. What I learned from you today will be helpful in my work. Thank you for allowing me to spend this time with you. I hope this is not our last meeting. I have already heard tentative invitations related to Miners’ Day. If they are upheld, we will of course see each other again,” the Speaker added.

  • Five miners were found in the Pniówek mine

    Five miners were found in the Pniówek mine

    Rescue teams have successfully located five out of the seven miners who went missing during the incident at the Pniówek mine, owned by Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa, in April of the previous year. According to the company’s statement, these five miners were discovered in the N-12 longwall area, situated behind the entrance to the N-6 longwall. The challenging conditions of the operation mean that it will take approximately 24 hours to transport these found miners to the surface.

    Efforts were also made to access the N-6 longwall, where the remaining two missing miners were believed to be located. Unfortunately, it was determined that the conditions within the wall did not allow for a safe rescue operation. Following the transportation of the found miners, the area of the wall will be secured again.

    To reach the position of the two remaining missing miners, an additional excavation (one or two cuts) will be made from the N-9 ramp to the N-6 wall. Preparing and executing this next step may take up to a month. Thus far, a total of 61 rescue teams have been involved in the operation, including 16 teams from CSRG.

    It is important to note that the initial methane explosion in the Pniówek mine occurred on April 20, just 12 minutes past midnight, during the mining activity near the N-11 road. At that time, there were 42 workers in the affected zone, including 16 in the vicinity of the N-6 wall. While 39 employees were able to evacuate during the operation, three individuals remained trapped within the wall. Three rescue teams were dispatched to their aid. Unfortunately, at approximately 3:10 a.m., a second methane explosion occurred, leaving seven people still within the danger zone.

    On April 21, at 7:40 p.m., yet another methane explosion transpired. The rescue operation concluded on May 2 at 7:43. Tragically, as a result of these methane explosions, nine employees lost their lives, seven sustained severe injuries, and 26 experienced temporary incapacitation. Furthermore, seven workers were unaccounted for within the isolated N-6 wall.