Infrastruktura - Środowisko - Energia
Dodatek lobbingowy do "RZECZPOSPOLITEJ".
9 września 2008 r.

po polsku

National Chief Geologist

On brown coal

Interview with Dr. Henryk Jacek Jezierski, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Environment

Being the National Chief Geologist, responsible inter alia for studying the geological structure, are you able to estimate the national brown coal resources?

In accordance with the most recent data provided in the Specification of mineral resources in Poland, developed on commission of the Ministry of environment by the Polish Geological Institute, the resources of brown coal in Poland amount to 13.6 billion Mg. This includes exploited deposits of which there are 12 in Poland, with geological resources estimated at 1.8 billion Mg.

Those are documented resources. What about prospects for documenting new resources?

Forecast geological resources are estimated at about 38 billion Mg. However, it should be noted that this is just a rough estimate of forecast resources and usually is reduced during detailed documentation work. On the other hand, despite relatively good geological identification of Tertiary deposits, there are other regions where we can expect to discover new deposits. Considering the two factors, we can assume that including the recognised prospective deposits, it is probable that about 40-50 billion Mg of brown coal may be documented in Poland.

Can we then estimate for how long the coal will be exploited?

Mining of brown coal in Poland reached the maximum level in 1988 of 73 million Mg. After 1989 the mining was regularly decreasing and in 2002 reached the minimum level of 58 million Mg. Since that time it has been at a relatively stable level of somewhat above 60 million Mg annually. Rational management of brown coal deposits requires full utilisation of the potential of machinery, equipment and existing power generation infrastructure, accumulated at the existing mining centres. Development of well documented satellite resources, located in the neighbourhood of operating strip mines, should be a natural continuation of today's operations in the vicinity of Belchatow, Adamow and Konin. Apart from such satellite deposits, there are major (due to the size of resources), not yet exploited deposits: "Legnica" and "Gubin" (map on page V).

Assuming annual mining volumes will remain as they are and assuming that environmental considerations will not allow full exploitation of the documented resources, we can assume that brown coal deposits from documented and forecast deposits will theoretically last 500 years.

The term "theoretically" used by you probably is based on an assessment of potential to open new brown coal mines. It is perceived as the least ecological method to generate energy.

The negative aspects of brown coal mining become a barrier to increasing mining capacities. The hazards to the environment in mining brown coal deposits are manifested in the impact: on land surface, including naturally valuable areas, also including the Natura 2000 system; on surface and underground water; on atmospheric air and noise or on the existing infrastructure. This is accompanied by restrictions facing the power generation industry based on brown coal requiring reduced CO2 emissions. Use of brown coal in power generation must meet environmental requirements, including those concerning CO2 emissions.

In order to avoid a situation when those restrictions become a barrier to using brown coal resources, we require an intensive development of clean coal technologies. For Poland the potential for capture and store carbon dioxide becomes especially important for Poland.

This is yet another task for geologists. Can we say today that we will eliminate the excess carbon dioxide by storing it underground?

It is much too early to state so categorically. Our knowledge is insufficient and that is why the Ministry of Environment has developed a program identifying the activities to be taken up to recognise geological structures to store carbon dioxide. Some of the tasks in the program will be financed with the National Environment Protection and Water Management Fund. It is necessary to acquire detailed knowledge on possibilities of commercial CO2 storage in geological layers. This is key to further discussion on the potential of Poland to take up its obligations resulting from the climate and energy packet. We must also obtain an answer if such operations are safe to human health and the environment. Without that certainty, there will be no social acceptance to this method of eliminating carbon dioxide.

Social acceptance seems a major problem for the National Chief Geologist since as a licensing body, on behalf of the Minister of Environment, you grant permits to explore and exploit resources, in particular licences for mining of brown coal. I remember the outrage caused by the licence to exploit the Tomislawice deposit which was supposed to threaten the Goplo Lake?

I will repeat again: in accordance with studies performed by hydrogeologists, the future exploitation of the strip mine in Tomislawice will have no negative impact on the water level in the Goplo Lake. All the required procedures were observed in the process of licence granting, the impact of future deposit exploitation on the environment was assessed, all required approvals have been obtained.

The concerns of the inhabitants of Kruszwica in this specific case are ungrounded in my opinion. But obviously the problem of approval of investments with such major interference in the environment is serious. On the one hand, development of mining industry is an opportunity for local development, reduced unemployment and additional major budget revenues. On the other hand, it is necessary to accept resettlement of groups of inhabitants or change the use of land. It is understandable that it is hard to convince the inhabitants that in 30 years' time there will no trace left of the mine and the site will be developed into an attractive water body or varied landscape as evidenced by the external dump site in Belchatow, now used as recreational facility.

Then who should be responsible for obtaining the approval of local communities?

Obviously those who want to mine the minerals. They should start informing the inhabitants with appropriate advance. Persons without sufficient information, surprised, uncertain of their fate do not tend to accept the proposed solutions.

Don't you a role for State bodies?

Obviously I do but in a different sphere. The first step is to develop Poland's energy policy. The document is now at the consultation stage.

The draft policy provides that in view of gradual exhaustion of resources of energy raw materials exploited now, it is necessary to look for new deposits. The process should not be slowed down. If such resources are going to be exploited in the future, are the environmental costs acceptable - that is another issue. We should remember that technological progress may lead to energy generation from brown coal with reduced environmental negative impact. Processing of the coal, e.g. into liquid and gas fuels or gasification or biogasification of brown coal in the deposit in order to obtain a cleaner material may be available for power generation needs in a few years from now. However, to be able to use such technologies, we need to work already today on designs of installations, e.g. at a selected unexploited deposit in order to test the alternative method of exploitation of brown coal deposits in Poland.

At the same time, in effect of approval of the provisions concerning brown coal in energy policy we should intensify works on providing protection of prospective deposits, especially to minimise building developments on the surface above the deposits.

It is also worth reminding that the draft new Act - Geological and mining law that is expected to be approved by the government in the third quarter of 2008, brown coal deposits are recognised as property of the State Treasury. This solution will consolidate the perception of brown coal deposits as of strategic importance for Poland's economy.

Thank you for the interview.

EM

www.mos.gov.pl