In search of new coal reserves JSW started development works with new coking coal deposit "Pawłowice 1" by one of its most promising mine - "Pniówek" in Pawłowice.
There are estimated 54.3 million tons of reserves in "Pawłowice 1" to the depth of 1140m and 90 million tons to the depth of 1300m. As a result the mine longevity will be extended till the year 2051although there is also a possibility to extend further mining activities by several years through the development and management of the resources to the depth of 1300m.
In “Pawlowice 1” future deposit, nearly 70 percent of coal is of ortho-coking type 35, and 30 percent of the deposits of coking coal ,type 34.
- This is one of those projects that allow to restore the resource base of our mines. The reserves documented in JSW mining areas allow efficient extraction for the next 40 years - says Jerzy Borecki, Vice-President of the Management Board for Technical Matters.
At present we conduct works connected with drilling of four boreholes for shaft VI in Mizerów. Thanks to these boreholes we will have better knowledge of the deposit, determine the rocks quality, and conduct detailed examination of the hydrogeological layer where the shaft is to be sank. This in turn will allow us to estimate costs and reveal the best sinking method.
Three holes - two with a depth of 40 meters and one with depth of 260 meters - have already been made, the last one - with a target depth of 1170 m (currently 959 m) is in the process of drilling. The tasks have been performed by the consortium PPGiWG "DMM" and EC KPG. The work associated with the drilling will be completed later this year. Shaft VI (service and man riding) will have a diameter of 8.5 m, the depth of 1170 m and will provide access to a new coal seam at 1140 m.
The coal will be accessed from the new mine deposits from the side of already existing works at levels 830 and 1,000 m. In the process of development of new deposits it will facilitate the use of existing technical infrastructure of the mine, including the airing of excavations, transport of the cut coal underground and up to the surface, mechanical processing and dewatering. In this way, the project becomes more cost-effective for businesses, since expenditures are lower than those in case of the construction of a new mine. Also environmental considerations have been taken into account, as use of existing objects mitigates negative impact of mining activities on the natural world.
The first production from the western part of the deposit "Pawlowice 1" is scheduled for 2015, and achieving target production of 7.2 thousand tons per day - in the year 2026. Commencement of production from the eastern part of the deposit is expected in 2020.
The concession for the extraction of coal from the deposit "Pawlowice 1" mine "Pniówek" was received in June 2012 - six years since the beginning of the formal - legal efforts to obtain it.
