The main topics of the meeting at the Knurów Section were employee safety and the mine's development prospects. Jarosław Twardokęs, director of the Knurów-Szczygłowice mine, pointed out that employee safety is a priority for the company's authorities, and JSW does not limit funds for proper equipment and protection of employees and for combating hazards.
“This year alone, the company will spend more than one billion zloty on health and safety. In the Knurów-Szczygłowice mine alone, the amount will reach more than PLN 100 million,” said Jarosław Twardokęs, director of the Knurów-Szczygłowice mine.
During the meeting, minister Piotr Pyzik got acquainted with the mine's ongoing investments, which open up further development prospects, including through the acquisition of coking coal reserves. Participants analyzed the problems faced by JSW in connection with its plans to expand its resource base, which for a mining company is a prerequisite for continued operations.
“The main problem for mining companiesis to convince local authorities to accept mining operations,” said Tomasz Cudny, president of JSW S.A., during the meeting.
After the presentation, the minister, accompanied by the company's president and the mine director, descended to the 650-meter level to longwall 6 in seam 401/2 to personally inspect the conditions under which miners are working.
After talks with the miners working in the longwall, the minister emerged to the surface, where, accompanied by Mr. Cudny, he met with trade union representatives.
“The main topic of our talks was occupational safety and issues concerning the unification of the pay system in all the company's mines. In addition, the trade unions have put forward an interesting idea of employing young professionals in JSW mines, who may start to be in short supply in the mining industry in some time,” said minister Piotr Pyzik.
Following his visit to the mine, the minister went to visit the nearby company Haldex, with which JSW cooperates, among other things, in the production of energy pellets and overhaul of equipment.
