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

po polsku

The strategy of brown coal industry in Poland for 21st century

Poland with its relatively large energy material resources, including hard and brown coal deposits, faces a great opportunity to rationally use the resources for the production of clean and cheap electrical energy. The world today has vast demand for energy that has been growing all the time. World forecasts provide for a growth of original energy consumption by 25% every 10 years. While the growth of demand for electrical energy is even larger and estimated at over 30% every 10 years. The Energy Policy, approved by the Council of Ministers of 4 January 2005, provides for an annual average growth of 3% of demand for electrical energy by (now the growth is expected to be 4 to 5%). In order to assure supplies of electrical energy of this volume will require commissioning power stations of minimum power of 4,000 to 5,000 MW every five years. Therefore, questions are asked today about the fuel for the power stations - coal (hard or brown) or also natural gas or perhaps this will be nuclear or wind energy?

Brown coal sector in Poland

The brown coal sector in Poland is composed of five strip mines and five power stations consuming brown coal.

The specific brown coal mines began to strip the overlay and produce coal as follows:

• KWB "Adamów" - overlay in 1959, coal in 1964,
• KWB Bełchatów - overlay in 1977, coal in 1980,
• KWB "Konin" - overlay in 1945, coal in 1947,
• KWB Turów - overlay in 1947, coal in 1947,
• KWB "Sieniawa" - coal mining since 1853.

The power stations fuelled with brown coal, today with total power of about 8917 MW began operation as follows:

• Power plant "Konin" - 1958, power of 600 MW, now 193 MW,
• Power plant "Adamów" - 1964, power of 600 MW,
• Power plant "Pątnów" - 1967, power of 1200 MW, Power plant Pątnów I and Power plant Pątnów II power of 464 MW,
• Power plant Turów - 1962, power of 2100 MW,
• Power plant Bełchatów - 1981, power of 4360 MW (now 4440 MW).

Since the beginning of operation, in Polish brown coal mines about 2.9309 billion Mg of coal had been mined with total overlay stripped of over 9.056 billion m3.

Brown coal in Poland

Brown coal in Polish power industry for years has been treated as strategic fuel which is evidenced by about 9000 MW of power installed at Polish brown coal fuelled power plants and the annual energy production from those power plants in excess of 50 TWh. This accounts for about 25% of power installed at all Polish power plants and about 35% of produced electrical energy that is by about 20-30% cheaper than energy produced from hard coal. All development scenarios of Poland’s economy, formulated by consecutive governments in Poland, provide for brown coal output of about 65 million Mg annually in 2030. However, the forecasts do not specify the deposits and regions where the production is to take place.

Today’s level of output will continue for about 15 years and afterwards will decrease unless brown coal mining is started in the new deposits of Legnica-Ścinawa or Gubin-Mosty. New mining and power generation centres require minimum 15-20 years to build.

Decreased output will result is decreased electrical energy production from brown coal which is contrary to the forecast demand for energy in Poland at that time. Output potential of brown coal and energy generation from brown coal in the operating regions are presented in figure 1.

The analyses of energy demand presented in Poland’s energy policy by 2025 of 2005 and in the Program for power generation industry of 2006 and other analyses provide for doubling of power generation by 2030. To meet the forecast demand, it is necessary to install by 2030 about 45,000 MW in new power and the power of modernised power plants in order to improve efficiency from 30-35% to 45-50% and to adapt the power plants to new ecological challenges. Another very important issue is to continuous improvement of efficiency of brown coal fuelled power plants in order to reduce CO2 emissions. By that time, over 15,000 MW of power in "old" power units will be shut down - table 1.

The power plants that have been commissioned, are under construction or planned in the near future: Pątnów II 464 MW (the first power unit for 17 years in Poland), Łagisza 460 MW, Bełchatów II 858 MW the block of 500 MW in Turów are not new power - this is the power replacing old power units that will be shut down in those power plants. The energy challenge for the whole country is major and it will be up to the solutions approved in the new Power Policy if our country is able to meet the challenge!

Prospective brown coal deposits

In our country over 150 coal deposits and areas have been explored. Over 24 billion Mg of resources have been documented in researched deposits, over 60 billion Mg in estimated deposits and potential coal areas are estimated at over 140 billion Mg. Our country holds great riches. This is brown coal which is a wealth that is underestimated today. Due to the volume, quality and availability of the deposits, an assumption is made that it will continue to be a strategic fuel in Polish power industry for minimum 50 years ...

In view of the long period of preparation and performance of mining investments (from a few to over 10 years), it is necessary that the Government approves a Power Industry Development Program. Without such program it is impossible to include such investments in the Conceptual National Spatial Development Plan and to voivodeship and local spatial development plans. In effect, areas above the deposits are used for purposes not related to mining (e.g. developments, infrastructure) and when decisions are taken to go ahead with the investment, costs increase and sometimes constructing a mine is no longer possible.

In order to protect brown coal deposits (and also of other minerals) it is necessary to amend the existing law. The law on environment protection refers to deposit protection only to specifying obligations of enterprises already operating deposits. It does not provide at all for protection of unexploited deposits; no regulations refer to prospective areas with potentially documentable resources. Neither the Geological and mining law sufficiently protects deposits against non-mining development of sites above the deposits since the obligation to mark the limits of documented deposits in local spatial development plans is not sufficient to protect them. Amendments are required to other regulations that refer to deposit management in an insufficient or inconsistent manner.

Sector development strategy on the basis of prospective brown coal deposits

As assessed by the Association of Brown Coal Producers in Poland, polish brown coal mining industry and power plants fuelled with brown coal are well prepared to face the challenges of the next 50 years. The Association has drafted a scenario to maintain major brown coal output in distant future by maximum use of the existing mines and exploitation of new deposits.

An analysis of economic value and a ranking of deposits show that first two strategic deposits of brown coal are as follows:

• deposit Legnica-West - deposit Legnica-East and deposits Legnica-Ścinawa-Głogów (with resources of about 14.5 billion Mg),
• deposit Gubin - deposit Gubin-Mosty-Brody (with resources of about 4.25 billion Mg).

In order to extend the operation of the mines and power plants in existing mining and power generation reasons it is worth exploiting the following:

• in the Bełchatów region - deposit Złoczew with resources of about 486 million Mg,
• in the Turów region - deposit Radomierzyce with resources of about 180 million Mg,
• in the Konin-Turek region - deposits: Tomisławie, Piaski, Ościsłowo, Dęby Szlacheckie, Mąkoszyn-Grochowiska for KWB "Konin" and Rogóźno and the central field of deposit Koźmin for KWB "Adamów". The resources in selected prospective brown coal deposits in Poland are presented in table 2.

Assumptions for exploitation of the deposit Legnica

In the first stage, the "Legnica" deposit will be exploited in one mining front with output capacity of about 25-30 million tons annually. The brown coal from the "Legnica" mine will probably be consumed by a power plant with power of 4 x 1150 MW, i.e. 4600 MW, to be constructed on the Odra River, in immediate neighbourhood of the mine. It is assumed that in 7 years from commencement of the construction and subject to market conditions and demand for energy, a second mining front will be started and the output of brown coal will be doubled. Total output will reach then about 50-60 million tons annually which should cover the demand of a power plant of total power of as much as about 9000 MW with net efficiency in excess of 48%, fully replacing after 2030 the power plants operating now in Poland on the basis of brown coal.

The four exploitation scenarios of the "Legnica" deposit, developed by Poltegor-Instytut in Wrocław under the Foresight project titled "Scenarios of technological development of brown coal mining and processing industry", co-financed by the European Union, the scenario of exploitation of coal deposits in the western Field is the best with respect to economy and ecology.

The arguments in favour are: the surface of the Western Field polluted with heavy metals by the Steel Mill Legnica, the smallest excavation cubature in relation to the excavations located in the Eastern and Northern Fields, the least intensive developments on the surface under which there is the brown coal deposit and the highest calorific value of the coal.

The location of the deposits in Legnica and in Gubin as well as in Turów is presented in figure 2.

Assumptions for exploitation of the Gubin-Mosty-Brody deposit

Close to Gubin, in the "Gubin-Mosty-Brody" deposit it is possible to build a similar mine and power plant like in the "Legnica" deposit. Here at the beginning, brown coal output may be about 25 million tons annually or even as much as 50 million tons annually. Ultimately, the deposit will provide enough fuel for an emission-free power plant with power of 4600 MW or 9000 MW and net efficiency in excess of 48%. The time to start mining and generating energy from the region will be subject to the commencement of exploitation of the Legnica deposits. However, it is assumed that mining may start about 2030. In fact, the order of exploitation of the fields may be reversed. An important element in future decisions as to exploitation of the Gubin deposit will be the fact that the site of the future mine or power plant is not much developed and that water to cool the power plant may be taken from the Odra River. Across the border, Germans mine from the same brown coal deposit about 15 million tons annually at the mine of Jänschwalde and burn it in the nearby power plant of power of 3000 MW. Both the mine and the power plant are [parts of the international power group Vattenfall.

Assumptions for the exploitation of the Złoczew deposit at PGE KWB Bełchatów S.A.

The "Złoczew" deposit is a satellite deposit of "Bełchatów", located about 40 km away from the Bełchatów power plant. Exploitation of the deposit by deliveries to the functioning power plant would prolong the operation of the power unit now under construction of 858 MW by about 100,000 beyond 2038, i.e. by about 14 years. The unit of 858 MW with high gross efficiency of about 45.4% (net efficiency of 41.7%) is planned to be commissioned in 2010. It should be noted that useful life of power units No. 1 and 2 at the Bełchatów power plant (each of 370 MW) is limited by their operating time to 220,000 hours. The other ten units are subject to the Comprehensive Technical Reconstruction and Modernisation Program to be completed by 2012. The modernisation will extend the useful life of the units up to 320,000 hours of operation. The target power balance of the Bełchatów power plant after commissioning of a new 858 MW unit and shutting down two units of 2 x 370 MW, the power will grow only by about 100 MW.

The location of the deposits of Złoczew and Rogóźno against the location of KWB "Adamów" S.A. and PGE KWB Bełchatów S.A. is presented in figure 3.

Assumptions for the exploitation of the Radomierzyce deposit at PGE KWB Turów S.A.

At the Turów power plant, technical and ecological modernisation was completed of power units No. 1-6. Unit No. 7 was completely shut down and units 8, 9 and 10 are subject to major overhauls to be completed at the end of 2012. The current power of the plant is 2088 MW as compared to the original 2200 MW. In view of the shutting down of unit No. 7, it is possible to install in its place a modern power unit of about 500 MW. There are preliminary plans to commission the unit around 2015. Documented brown coal resources in the "Turów" deposit and the prospective "Radomierzyce" deposit fully justify the construction of a new power unit of 500 MW - figure 2. In the new unit is not commissioned, the power deficit at the Turów power plant will be about 112 MW; however, when the unit of 500 MW is commissioned, there will be an increase of power in relation to the original power before modernisation of about 388 MW.

Assumptions for the exploitation of prospective deposits in the Konin-Turek region for the ZE PAK power plant

The mines that supply brown coal to the Power Plant Complex Pątnów-Adamów-Konin (ZE PAK S.A.) are KWB Adamów S.A. and KWB Konin S.A.

At KWB Adamów S.A. now mining is commenced in the central field of the "Koźmin" deposit. When resources are exhausted from the deposits of "Adamów", "Władysławów" and "Koźmin" in 2023, the present strategy provides that the mine and the power plant (now with power 600 MW) will be closed.

However, plans are being discussed to extend the operation of the "Adamów" power plant. The plans may be carried out as follows:

• Scenario I: Mine "Adamów" will exploit the "Piaski" deposit documented by KWB "Konin" and Mine "Konin" in exchange will exploit the "Dęby Szlacheckie-Izbica Kujawska" and "Mąkoszyn-Grochowiska" deposits - then it would be necessary to construct one 464 MW power unit with gross efficiency of 48% in place of the units 120 MW at the "Adamów" power plant,
• Scenario II: Mine "Adamów" will exploit the "Rogóźno" deposit - then it will be possible to construct one or two power units of 850 MW with efficiency in excess of 46% in place of the existing units of the "Adamów" power plant.

At KWB "Konin" the "Tomisławice" deposit is commenced now to assure exploitation by at least 2046; afterwards, there is a plan to exploit the "Piaski" and "Ościsłowo" deposits. On stand-by there are the deposits of "Dęby Szlacheckie-Izbica Kujawska" and "Mąkoszyn-Grochowiska".

At the beginning of 2008, at the "Pątnów" power plant a new power unit was commissioned with power of 464 MW and gross efficiency of 44% (net efficiency of 41%). There is also a plan to modernise 4 power units of 200 MW. The modernised units should have much better efficiency than the "old" ones which would largely reduce CO2 emissions at the "Pątnów" power plant. The power plant "Konin" with power of about 193 MW will continue operating, mainly as a heat and power station for the town of Konin.

In the region there may be two scenarios in power development at ZE PAK S.A. by 2030:

1. Minimum scenario:

Power plant "Adamów": 0 MW,

Power plant "Konin": 193 MW,

Power plant "Pątnów": 464 MW ("Pątnów II") and 900 MW ("Pątnów I").

Total 1557 MW as compared to about 2800 MW of original power.

2. Maximum scenario:

Power plant "Adamów": 850 or 1700 MW,

Power plant "Konin": 193 MW,

Power plant "Pątnów": 464 MW ("Pątnów II") and 900 MW ("Pątnów I").

Total 3257 or 2407 MW as compared to about 2800 MW of original power.

Now there is a discussion going on also on the construction of a new power plant located by the "Piaski" deposit which would use local brown coal to generate energy.

The location of the strip mines KWB "Adamów" and "Konin" is presented in figure 4.

Figure 5 presents total planned output at the existing mines: Adamów, Bełchatów, Konin and Turów and the prospective mines: Legnica, Złoczew and Gubin-Mosty. After commencement of exploitation of the Legnica deposits, total output will grow up to about 80 million Mg annually; after commencement of exploitation of the deposits of Złoczew and Gubin-Mosty, the output will grow up to 120 to 140 million Mg. The balance of brown coal mining does not include the output from the Rogóźno deposit for potential new power units at the "Adamów" power plant - this subject is presented just as a signal.

It should be clearly stated that without exploitation of prospective deposits, brown coal output will be on a downward trend from 2021 - figure 1.

The total planned power in existing power plants fuelled with brown coal and in new power plants on brown coal prospective deposits is presented in figure 6. The above drawing presents a growth of total power of brown coal based power stations from today’s level of about 9000 MW to over 20 000 MW after 2040.

Figure 7 presents a forecast of demand and production of electrical energy in Poland by 2030. For comparison sake, demand for electrical energy as forest in 2006 was used (green line). The same drawing presents energy situation in Poland after commenced exploitation of the first prospective deposit Legnica (impact of commencement of brown coal mining and energy generation from the Złoczew and Gubin deposits will be noted after 2030). Production of electrical energy from the "Legnica" power plant will reduce the deficit in power generation in 2030 down to 110 TWh. The short supply for energy places major challenges before Poland.

The above exploitation potential of prospective brown coal deposits in Poland provide for output of over 7.0 billion Mg of brown coal by 2075 to be primarily used in modern power plants with net efficiency over 48% and maximum reduction of pollutant emissions, including CO2.

The coal will also be gasified to produce liquid and gaseous fuels. Tests will be also conducted with coal gasification in deposit. Production of electrical energy and liquid and gas fuels would a major contribution of the brown coal sector in assuring our country’s energy security in 21st century - the age of very uncertain supplies of imported liquid and gas fuels as well as soaring fuel prices.

Over the next 20-30 years, our country will not be able to double energy production from other fuels but brown and hard coal. Hard and brown coal in Poland are not and will not be competitors - they are complementary as cheap and certain energy raw materials.

If the energy balance showed larger demand for energy from brown coal, it would also be necessary to plan earlier exploitation of other brown coal deposits. For instance, those may be the deposits of "Czempin", "Krzywin" and "Gostyń" in the Poznań Trench (without the largest one of "Mosina") with deposits of about 3.5 billion tons to provide for the output of 35 million tons annually over 100 years.

A major feature of the brown coal deposits in Poland is their favourable location over a large part of the country, at a distance from hard coal deposits. This allows for construction and even distribution of power generation facilities which shortens the transmission distances and improves security of supplies.

Stanisław Żuk
President of the Management Board, General Director of PGE KWB Turów S.A.
President of the Management Board of the Employer Union - Association of Brown Coal Producers

Jacek Kaczorowski
President of the Management Board, General Director of PGE KWB Bełchatów S.A.
Chairman of the Council of the Employer Union - Association of Brown Coal Producers

Zbigniew Kasztelewicz
Prof. of AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków
Deputy President for strip and pit mining of ZG SITG in Katowice

www.ppwb.org.pl