OUR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Concern for the natural environment is understood by the Group as corporate social responsibility towards the local community rather than mere compliance with legal obligations. Responsible operations based on the highest environmental, safety and product quality standards and consistency in implementing environmental tasks constitute priorities for the Group.
The mining industry contributes to the degradation of local natural environment by disrupting the landscape or emitting pollution. Underground mining activities are accompanied by deformations on the surface, which may cause damage to private and public property and disrupt hydrological balance. Add to this storing waste rock that accompanies coal and is extracted together with it at the surface, noise associated with mining operations and dust and gas emissions, especially in the case of coking plants.
The Company's on-going activities intended to minimise its negative impact are a domain of strategic operational management and are meant to ensure environmental safety for nature and the residents of local communities. Just as in other business areas, having an environmental management system is of key significance to proper operations.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN THE GROUP
JSW, JSW KOKS, JZR, PBSz and PGWiR have an implemented environmental management system certified in accordance with the PN-EN ISO 14001:2015 standard. The environmental management system enables the identification and oversight over all areas of activity that have or are likely to have an impact on the environment. Each of the companies which has implemented an environmental management system identifies significant environmental aspects that have or may have an impact on the environment resulting from nature of their activities. Every year the environmental aspects are evaluated based on objective criteria adopted in specific procedures.
In the Parent Company, the environmental management system is part of the Integrated Quality Management System – according to the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard; occupational health and safety management system according to the PN-N–18001, ISO 45001 standard, and information security management system according to the 27001 standard, with respect to coal production, processing and sales.
In accordance with the declaration of the President of the JSW Management Board made in the Integrated Management System Policy for the environmental management system, it has been assumed that, “Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa S.A. strives to attain its vision and mission, achieve long-term success and increase the value of the Company. The business activity conducted by JSW complies with the law and other regulations, taking into account the expectations of all stakeholder groups. As a supplier of a critical raw material, aware of the impact of its operations on the environment in which it operates, addressing the challenges of climate change, JSW has adopted an Environmental Strategy, which sets out to reduce its carbon footprint by 30% by 2030 (in Scopes 1 and 2) and strive for climate neutrality by 2050. Environmental and climate protection efforts are made in compliance with legal environmental conditions while taking into account the needs of local stakeholders and the local community. The overriding value that guides all of the Company's business activities is to provide customers with the highest quality coking coal, coke and hydrocarbons in a manner ensuring the growth of the Company's value in line with the expectations of the stakeholders with respect to environmental conditions, using the unique resources, competencies and skills of employees and continuous improvement of the organization.”
GROUP’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IN 2022
In February 2022, the JSW Group's Environmental Strategy up to 2030 with an Outlook to 2050 was adopted by the JSW Management Board as a response to the new challenges of ongoing regulatory changes and clarification of the Group's role in the environmental, energy and climate transition of Poland and the European Union. Its main assumptions have been incorporated into the business strategy adopted by the JSW Management Board and Supervisory Board. It assumes continuation of integrated activities for environmental protection, conducted in conformity with environmental conditions defined by law, taking into account the ongoing transition changes, needs of local stakeholders and the local community. The activities targeted four key areas.
| GROUP’S COMMITMENT AREAS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| PROTECTION OF THE AIR AND CARBON FOOTPRINT | PROTECTION OF WATER AND BIODIVERSITY | CIRCULAR ECONOMY | LAND RECLAMATION |
|
30% reduction of the organization’s carbon footprint vs. 2018 Maximizing the utilization of methane and coke oven gas for energy production Diversifying the Group's operations based on low emission and taxonomic products and services |
Rational water and wastewater management, including with regard to the discharge of saline mine water Protection and improvement of biological indicators of surface waters affected by the Group Executing investment projects to develop and optimize infrastructure operations to support more effective water conservation |
Increasing production of products with mining waste for applications in infrastructure projects Continuing activities consistent with the priorities of the circular economy (CE) and the 5R principle (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle) |
Managing brownfield sites, enabling the restoration of usable and natural values Running projects enabling the restoration of biological and natural diversity in the areas affected by the Group’s operations |
The solutions and technologies used ensure transformation towards circular economy (“CE”) being an indispensible element of development of a low-emission, resource-saving, innovative and competitive economy, expected to contribute to changing the economic development model defined by the European Commission. The directions of efforts defined in the Strategy in the area of utilization of methane for production of electricity, carbon footprint of the organization and the product, management of post-industrial areas, management of underground saline water and manufacture of products with the use of mining waste for applications in infrastructural projects constitute an element of a sustainable business model and contribute to execution of CE priorities and combating climate changes. The Group’s best practices are also aligned with the key areas of the European Green Deal which include, among others: reduction of pollution, climate protection, clean energy and circular economy.
The activity in the mining industry displays a significant indirect impact o the conducted operations on consumption of natural resources, waste production, energy and fuel consumption and atmospheric emissions. Coal mining is accompanied by inseparable mining of methane as an accompanying mineral constituting a greenhouse gas impacting our climate. We strive to capture and utilize as much methane as possible, however due to miner safety considerations we cannot avoid its emissions together with the ventilation air from the upcast shafts. We realize that climate changes in the future may have direct and indirect impact on our operations.
The commitment to protection of natural environment is reflected by actions aimed at minimizing the negative environmental impact of our activity in the following areas:
- Mining waste management,
- Salinated mine water management,
- Direct and indirect impact on climate change,
- Impact of mining operations on the surface,
- Reclamation and revitalization of mining waste management areas and post-mining areas,
- Emissions of gas and dust into the atmosphere, including methane emissions,
- Estimating, monitoring and balancing the organization’s carbon footprint and products - coal and coke.
Water and wastewater management
Water usage
All of JSW's mines use drinking and industrial water, which is partly obtained from their own sources and partly purchased from external companies. Drinking water is used primarily for human consumption and supplying the fire network underground. Industrial water in all mines is used for technological and production purposes, i.e. replenishing shortages in compressor cooling systems, supplying fire pipelines underground and replenishing water losses in the water and sludge circulation in the coal processing plants.
| WATER CONSUMPTION IN THE GROUP (million m3) | 2022 | 2021 | GROWTH RATE 2021=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total water usage: | 20,56 | 21,06 | 97,6 |
| Surface water | 10,72 | 10,52 | 101,9 |
| Potable water | 0,0000 | 0,0000 | - |
| Industrial water | 10,72 | 10,52 | 101,9 |
| Underground water | 3,13 | 3,45 | 90,7 |
| Potable water | 3,13 | 3,45 | 90,7 |
| Purchase of water | 6,71 | 7,09 | 94,6 |
| Potable water | 2,53 | 2,45 | 103,3 |
| Industrial water | 4,18 | 4,64 | 90,1 |
| Discharge of storm and thaw water | 0,36 | 0,35 | 102,9 |
| into surface water | 0,325 | 0,323 | 100,6 |
| into the soil | 0,023 | 0,022 | 104,5 |
| to third parties | 0,009 | 0,008 | 112,5 |
| Recovered water | 4,32 | 4,71 | 91,7 |
| Total water consumption: | 22,97 | 23,79 | 96,6 |
| Potable water | 5,24 | 5,47 | 95,8 |
| Potable water | 17,73 | 18,32 | 96,8 |
| Water consumption per unit of revenue – million m3 / PLN million | 0,0011 | 0,0022 | 50,0 |
Municipal and technological wastewater
The Knurów-Szczygłowice and Budryk mines discharge municipal wastewater into the wastewater treatment plants operated by PGWiR and the remaining mines discharge municipal waste water into the city or municipality sewage system. To save water and minimize the negative impact on the environment, technological water used in the Group’s mines among others, for coal enrichment in coal preparation plants and cooling of compressors, is in closed water and sludge circuits. Consequently, technological wastewater is not discharged into the environment.
JSW KOKS’s Jadwiga Coking Plant has closed water and sludge circuits and does not discharge wastewater outside the plant boundaries. All municipal and industrial wastewater and rainwater is treated in the in-house wastewater treatment plant and the used in the coke wet quenching process. In the Przyjaźń Coking Plant treated coking wastewater is discharged into the Bobrek river, and in the Radlin coking plant into the municipal treatment system.
| WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT (GROUP) (MILLION M3) | 2022 | 2021 |
GROWTH RATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOTAL QUANTITY OF WASTERWATER, INCLUDING: | 25,0 | 24,7 | 101,2 |
| Generated | 18,6 | 19,4 | 95,9 |
| Collected from the outside | 6,4 | 5,3 | 120,8 |
| WASTERWATER MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING: | 25,0 | 24,7 | 101,2 |
| Management with own resources | 3,1 | 3,8 | 81,6 |
| Discharged into the water or into the soil | 20,6 | 19,6 | 105,1 |
| Discharged into another entity | 1,31 | 1,33 | 98,5 |
| SIGNIFICANT SUBSTANCES IN THE WASTEWATER (MG), INCLUDING: | 316 082,9 | 236 792,7 | 133,5 |
| CHZT | 187,1 | 246,3 | 76,0 |
| BZT5 | 10,3 | 8,8 | 117,0 |
| Total nitrogen | 108,0 | 112,9 | 95,7 |
| Suspension | 330,6 | 289,2 | 114,3 |
| Chlorides | 307 905,1 | 228 011,8 | 135,0 |
| Sulfates | 7 437,8 | 8 026,0 | 92,7 |
| TOC | 103,9 | 97,7 | 106,3 |
| Wastewater emission per unit of revenue million m3 / PLN million | 0,0012 | 0,0023 | 52,2 |
Salinated underground water management
In each mine salinated underground water is drained into sedimentation tanks on the surface, where it is subject to mechanical treatment. Mines are drained on the basis of the water rights permits they hold. Due to the high level of salination, it is vital to manage the underground water in such a way as to prevent degradation of the environment. Some of the salinated water is used to replenish the technological circuits of the coal preparation plants and to make sealing mixtures used for fire prevention underground together with waste from energy production and post-flotation waste. Unused water from the Borynia-Zofiówka, Jastrzębie-Bzie and Pniówek mines are discharged into the Odra River in Olza through a retention and dosage system under the name of the “Olza” collector owned by PGWiR. The operation of the “Olza” system is based on limiting the amount of water discharged during periods of low flows, or even stopping the discharge altogether and using the retention capacity of the reservoirs operating in the “Olza” system during this time. Discharge of water stored in retention occurs only after rainfall and under conditions of sufficiently high flow of the Odra River. The saline waters are discharged into the river through 51 nozzles located in the bottom along the entire width of the Odra River bed, allowing the waters to be mixed along a short stretch of the river. The salinity of the Odra River after the dosage of mining waters is controlled through a monitoring station in Krzyżanowice. Salinity measurements are also taken by PGWiR's water and wastewater testing laboratory. The retention and dosing functions based on precise monitoring make it possible to reduce maximum salt concentrations in the Odra River by more than 60%. The retention capacity of the “Olza” system is approx. 938,000 m3, which allows for two months of saltwater collection during droughts. Mine water from KWK Budryk is desalinated in the plant in Dębieńsko (PGWiR).
Dębińska Salt is produced through a process of desalination of top quality brines available at the depth of as much as 1200 m. This is salt that has been deposited underground for thousands of years and is not polluted like, for example, sea salt. The technological solutions applied by the plant allow us to preserve the desired microelements and minerals in the contents of the product. The constant granulation and low moisture eliminate the need for the use of anti-lumping substances. Road salt is also offered on top of salt for consumption. As a result of the process no highly salinated water pumped out from the mining areas is discharged into the Bierawka river and, at the same time, high quality evaporated salt is obtained. The use of salt from the salinated mine water is good for the environment as it reduces the need for mining a specific volume of rock salt in traditional salt mines (in 2022 Dębieńsko produced over 65.6 thousand tons of salt).
| SALINATED UNDERGROUND WATERS (JSW) (MILLION M3) | 2022 | 2021 | GROWTH RATE 2021=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handled | 1,5 | 2,0 | 75,0 |
| Discharged to the environment | 4,5 | 4,5 | 100,0 |
| Discharged to the Desalination Plant | 2,3 | 2,4 | 95,8 |
| Discharged to the Olza channel | 5,1 | 5,1 | 100,0 |
| TOTAL | 13,4 | 14,0 | 95,7 |
Waste management
In 2022, the Group continued to manage waste taking into account the waste hierarchy, reducing its negative impact on human life and health and on the environment, including in manufacture of products, and during and after their use.
Mining waste
During the operation and coal preparation process in the mine coal preparation plants, JSW generates significant volumes of mining waste (on average approx. 12.5 million Mg per annum); hazardous and non-hazardous waste is generated to a much smaller extent. This is caused by the uniqueness of the conducted business – mining and sale of coking coal and geological and mining conditions appearing in the mines and high quality requirements imposed on production of commercial coal, in particular the concentrate for the needs of the coking industry. The waste from operation is defined on the basis of the Regulation issued by the Minister of Climate of 2 January 2020 on the Waste Catalog, belonging to group 01 – i.e. waste generated in prospecting, mining and physical and chemical processing of ores and other minerals. Due to their origin its is divided into waste associated with opening and preparatory works (code 01 01 02) and generated in mechanical coal preparation plants (code 01 04 12 and 01 04 81). The share of waste with code 01 01 02 in the total mass is relatively small, as opposed to the so-called processing waste.
Mining waste management follows the binding legal regulations stipulated by the European and Polish law, as well as the Company’s in-house regulations. This is performed in accordance with the environmental protection regulations, in clearly specified directions, in a rational and planned manner, but above all taking into consideration economic and social circumstances, technological conditions and those connected with circular economy (CE) assumptions. The Group is aware that sustainable use of resources on which circular economy is based is the key for safe management of mining resources. Therefore this is one of the most important issues, primarily because of the aforementioned environmental, social, legal, technological and economic aspects.
With this in mind, as of October 2019, the Mining Waste Management Strategy is in effect. It defines the directions and determines how to deal with waste generated at mines, and is a coherent and comprehensive mining waste management policy. The strategy discusses and defines in detail current and near-future directions of mining waste management, specifies waste management process optimization measures as well as proposals of prospective directions.
The most important current directions pursued in 2022 included:
- production and sale of mining aggregates to external buyers,
- production and in-house utilization of mining aggregates,
- recovery of waste in waste management facilities,
- recovery of waste in reclamation areas,
- neutralization of waste in the CSOG facility,
- utilization of mining waste and rock minerals for rectification of mining damage,
- sale and in-house utilization of unprocessed waste.
Large quantities of mining waste, a limited range of application and the barriers connected with transport and logistics make it necessary, on the one hand, to look for new ways of waste recycling and improve the methods already in use, but, on the other hand, to take action to secure the existing capacity reserves for managing waste on the surface and to acquire new ones.
In 2022, with regard to mining waste management, land reclamation and development of areas transformed by mining operations the Group continued to use the production methods and service forms, and raw materials and other materials that made it possible to prevent generation of waste or keep its level as low as possible. All these actions were taken in accordance with the waste management hierarchy, minimizing their negative impact on human life and health and natural environment through optimum management of space and natural resources, with special focus on reclamation and revitalization of sites and land transformed by mining activity.
Activities were continued associated with utilization of mining waste and power plant waste and salinated water for filling and sealing goaf of caving longwalls in order to combat fire and methane hazards, limit emission of methane and land subsidence, improve ventilation conditions and fill liquidated and redundant dammed mining pits. An increase in the amount of utilized waste in the underground mining pits was carried out through a systematic extension and upgrade of sealing mixture injection installations.
Intensifying action to produce crushed rock in the mines’ coal preparation plants and sell it provided for the optimum utilization of mining waste in highway and road construction, civil engineering and hydro engineering projects. Production of aggregates was carried out in accordance with the Domestic Technical Evaluations (KOT) obtained and based on decisions held by the mines. The Company plans to obtain another Domestic Technical Evaluation for the aggregates produced, making it possible to enlarge the scope of their application.
Mining waste management in the mining waste management plants on the surface was done safely for the environment and was compliant with the local zoning plans, waste management plans and currently prevailing waste management regulations according to the directions agreed with local government units.
The mine waste management facilities were covered by technical and biological reclamation and greening methods guaranteeing a rapid and sustainable achievement of the intended environmental effects.
|
MINING WASTE MANAGEMENT (JSW) (million Mg) |
2022 | 2021 | GROWTH RATE 2021=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation of mining waste, including: | 13,1 | 12,4 | 105,6 |
| - Shaft stone ( 01 01 02 ) | 0,135 | 0,127 | 106,3 |
| - Coal Preparation Plant stone ( 01 04 12 ) | 12,2 | 11,5 | 106,1 |
| - Coal Preparation Plant stone ( 01 04 12 ) | 0,78 | 0,81 | 96,3 |
| Managing mining waste underground | 11,8 | 11,4 | 103,5 |
| Managing aggregates on the surface | 1,20 | 0,83 | 144,6 |
| Managing aggregates on the surface | 0,073 | 0,134 | 54,5 |
| Managing aggregates underground | 0,0020 | 0,0013 | 153,8 |
Other waste
The Group annually generates several tens of thousands of Mg of waste other than mining and municipal waste, which includes hazardous waste and waste other than hazardous waste. In relation to generated mining waste, this waste accounts for a small percentage of all waste produced by the Group’s plants. Hazardous waste means primarily: used oil waste, sludge from biological industrial wastewater treatment, used cleaning agents waste and batteries and accumulators. Waste other than hazardous waste generated in the Group’s mines means mainly: scrap, rubble, timber, rubber, plastics and used electrical and electronic equipment.
The Group segregates and selectively stores the waste produced in a manner that makes it impossible for the waste to exert an adverse impact on the environment and human health. In 2022 the Group continued efforts to reduce waste “at the source”, preventing generation of waste or making it possible to keep their generation as low as possible. Work was also done to ensure the enhanced effectiveness of selective waste management. Waste that could not be treated on-site for technological, environmental or economic reasons was systematically transferred, taking into account the hierarchy of waste handling and the best available technique or technology, to the nearest locations where it could be treated. The main methods of dealing with waste involved recovery processes. To a lesser extent, waste was subjected to neutralization processes. The waste management method was determined primarily on the basis of information provided by waste treatment contractors.
ADR – carriage of dangerous waste
In the case of conduct of activity in the area of carriage of dangerous goods – ADR, standards and methodologies in accordance with the requirements specified in ADR regulations are applied.
|
WASTE VOLUME (GROUP) (million Mg) |
2022 | 2021 | GROWTH RATE 2021=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total volume of generated hazardous waste | 0,0073 | 0,0077 | 94,8 |
| Total volume of generated non-hazardous waste | 13,16 | 12,45 | 105,7 |
| Hazardous waste collected from another entity | 0,0014 | 0,0015 | 93,3 |
| Non-hazardous waste collected from another entity | 0,330 | 0,233 | 141,6 |
| Waste emission per unit of revenue – million Mg / PLN million | 0,0007 | 0,0012 | 58,3 |
Biodiversity
The Group’s plants do not operate in areas, or in direct vicinity of areas with special nature value, such as national parks, nature reserves or Natura 2000 areas. Further on in the vicinity there are numerous sites with high nature or landscape value, subject to different forms of protection, including:
- Nature Reserves: Babczyna Valley (PGWiR – Łąka industrial water intake), Żubrowisko (PGWiR – Łąka industrial water intake), Rotuz (PGWiR – Łąka industrial water intake), Dąbrowa Forest (KWK Knurów-Szczygłowice), Segiet (Jadwiga Coking Plant), Żabnik Valley (Przyjaźń Coking Plant) and Mount Chełm (Przyjaźń Coking Plant
- Natura 2000 Special Bird Protection Areas: Upper Vistula Valley PLB240001 (KWK Borynia-Zofiówka, KWK Jastrzębie-Bzie, KWK Pniówek) PGWiR – Łąka industrial water intake), Ponds in Brzeszcze PLB120009 (PGWiR – Łąka industrial water intake) and Wielikąt Ponds and Tworkowski Forest PLB240003 (Radlin Coking Plant, PGWiR – Godów industrial water intake and outlet of the Olza collector).
- Natura 2000 Special Habitat Protection Areas: Forest near Tworków PLH 240040 (PGWiR - Olza Collector Outlet), Goczałkowicki Lake - Wisła and Bajerka River Mouth PLH240039 (KWK Borynia-Zofiówka-Jastrzębie-Bzie, KWK Pniówek), Pierściec PLH240022 (KWK Pniówek), Tarnogórsko – Bytomskie Underground Passages PLH240003 (Jadwiga Coking Plant), Odra Border Meander PLH240013 (Radlin Coking Plant), Dąbrowskie Meadows PLH240041 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Sławków Meadows PLH240043 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Fen Orchids in Dąbrowa Górnicza PLH240037 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Sosnowiec-Bory Bog PLH240038 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Błędowska Desert PLH120092 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Środkowojurajska Refuge PLH240009 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Pleszczotka PLH120092 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Armeria PLH120091 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), Jaworzno Meadows PLH240042 (Przyjaźń Coking Plant).
- Scenic Parks: Cysterskie Kompozycje Krajobrazowe Rud Wielkich [Rudy Landscape Park] (KWK Borynia-Zofiówka-Jastrzębie, KWK Jastrzębie-Bzie, KWK Knurów-Szczygłowice, KWK Pniówek, KWK Budryk, Radlin Coking Plant, PGWiR - Łąka water intake, Desalination Plant, Olza Collector Outlet)), Orlich Gniazd [Eagles’ Nests Landscape Park] (Przyjaźń Coking Plant), and Dolinki Krakowskie [Kraków Valleys] (Przyjaźń Coking Plant).
- Animate and inanimate natural monuments (all Group plants).
Distance of areas of high natural value from JSW Group's facilities .
|
JSW Group Entity |
Form of environmental protection |
Name |
Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Borynia |
Natural reserve |
- |
- |
|
Landscape park |
7,47 |
||
|
8,05 |
|||
|
National park |
- |
- |
|
|
NATURA 2000 |
13,74 |
||
|
14,43 |
|||
|
Zofiówka |
Natural reserve |
- |
- |
| Landscape park |
8,72 |
||
|
10,93 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
| NATURA 2000 |
10,19 |
||
|
11,85 |
|||
|
Jastrzębie-Bzie |
Natural reserve |
- |
- |
| Landscape park |
12,31 |
||
|
12,80 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
| NATURA 2000 |
12,96 |
||
|
Pniówek |
Natural reserve |
- |
- |
| Landscape park |
5,84 |
||
|
8,75 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
| NATURA 2000 |
7,51 |
||
|
8,08 |
|||
|
12,70 |
|||
|
Budryk |
Natural reserve |
- |
- |
| Landscape park |
11,82 |
||
|
3,96 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
| Protected landscape area |
0,62 |
||
|
0,66 |
|||
|
0,96 |
|||
|
1,39 |
|||
|
1,77 |
|||
|
Csog |
Natural reserve |
- |
- |
| Landscape park |
8,69 |
||
|
1,90 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
Knurów |
Natural reserve |
11,52 |
|
|
11,88 |
|||
| Landscape park |
5,05 |
||
|
3,02 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
Szczygłowice |
Natural reserve |
12,64 |
|
|
13,20 |
|||
| Landscape park |
4,50 |
||
|
w obszarze |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
Jadwiga |
Natural reserve |
7,68 |
|
|
7,88 |
|||
| Landscape park |
- |
- |
|
| National park |
- |
- |
|
| NATURA 2000 |
5,47 |
||
|
Radlin |
Natural reserve |
- |
- |
| Landscape park |
4,87 |
||
|
8,29 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
| NATURA 2000 |
11,44 |
||
|
14,70 |
|||
|
Przyjaźń |
Natural reserve |
13,02 |
|
|
13,16 |
|||
|
13,52 |
|||
| Landscape park |
2,24 |
||
|
7,97 |
|||
|
13,49 |
|||
|
14,8 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
| NATURA 2000 |
3,47 |
||
|
3,98 |
|||
|
8,12 |
|||
|
8,41 |
|||
|
8,54 |
|||
|
9,49 |
|||
|
10,95 |
|||
|
12,11 |
|||
|
14,65 |
|||
|
PGWIR |
Natural reserve |
7,80 |
|
|
8,35 |
|||
|
8,43 |
|||
|
8,62 |
|||
| Landscape park |
8,87 |
||
|
11,22 |
|||
| NATURA 2000 |
2,60 |
||
|
13,56 |
|||
|
5,64 |
|||
|
18,58 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
PGWIR |
Natural reserve |
- |
|
| Landscape park |
- |
||
| NATURA 2000 |
14,43 |
||
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
PGWIR |
Natural reserve |
- |
|
| Landscape park |
w obszarze |
||
|
7,84 |
|||
| NATURA 2000 |
- |
- |
|
| National park |
- |
- |
|
|
PGWIR |
Natural reserve |
- |
|
Landscape park |
14,52 |
||
|
12,05 |
|||
NATURA 2000 |
4,54 |
||
|
1,99 |
|||
|
6,48 |
|||
| National park |
- |
- |
Other environmental issues, including environmental compliance
JSW's units have a regulated formal and legal status. Compliance with the regulations has been confirmed with the results of inspections carried out in 2022 by Environmental Inspection, Mining Authority and independent auditors of an accredited entity under the ISO 14001 system. In 2022 the Group did not record any major breakdowns with environmental impact and no major penalties were imposed on any Group companies for breach of environmental protection regulations.
Supply, service and construction works contracts include provisions on environmental conservation and acting in compliance with the provisions of broadly understood environmental protection, including waste management and liability for environmental damage.
As part of the planned air emissions inspection of the WIOŚ at the Przyjaźń Coking Plant - a violation of permit conditions has been identified. JSW KOKS has requested that the deadline for correcting the violation be set for 17 August 2023. The request was accepted by the decision of the ŚWIOŚ on 20 October 2022.
Expenditures for environmental protection
Table. Expenditure on environmental protection (JSW Group) (PLN million)
| EXPENDITURES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (GROUP) (PLN million)* | 2022 | 2021 | GROWTH RATE 2021=100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental usage fees | 4,2 | 4,4 | 95,5 |
| Fees for water services | 18,9 | 15,0 | 126,0 |
| Waste management | 95,1 | 80,6 | 118,0 |
| Protection of water against salination | 57,0 | 29,3 | 194,5 |
| Repairing mining damage | 107,5 | 102,2 | 105,2 |
| Investments for environmental protection | 123,5 | 170,1 | 72,6 |
| Land-reclamation work | 0,4 | 0,3 | 133,3 |
| TOTAL | 406,6 | 401,9 | 101,2 |
| Ratio per unit of revenue – PLN million / PLN million | 0,020 | 0,038 | 52,6 |
Environmentally friendly investments
As part of the adopted Environmental and Business Strategy, a pro-environmental investment plan for 2022-2030 has been developed and is being successively updated in accordance with the Group's business model. Based on the key areas defined in the Environmental Strategy, groups of investment tasks have been identified for reducing GHG emissions, improving energy efficiency, adapting to BAT requirements and reducing residual emissions, respecting water and biodiversity, closed loop management and reclamation.
In 2022 JSW spent PLN 87.3 million on major pro-environmental and pro-climate investments. The most important tasks in this regard included:
- Methane Emission Reduction Program (MERP) – PLN 1.8 million,
- construction of cogeneration systems - PLN 29.5 million,
- improvement of energy efficiency, including construction or modernization of reactive power compensation systems - PLN 20.8 million,
- expansion and modernization of central air conditioning - PLN 7.3 million,
- reduction of other emissions - dust and noise - PLN 5.5 million,
- rational water and wastewater management - PLN 5.9 million,
- rational mining waste management - PLN 16.5 million.
In 2022, JSW KOKS spent PLN 61.8 million on pro-environmental investments, (projects aimed solely at reducing the environmental impact of individual installations; environmentally-friendly projects that satisfy technological needs, improve production efficiency, energy efficiency or occupational health and safety were not included). Among the most important tasks in this regard were:
Przyjaźń Coking Plant:
- construction of a flue gas denitrogenation system on the boiler of the Combined Heat and Power Plant - 71 MWe power unit - PLN 11.1 million,
- construction of a flue gas denitrogenation system on the boiler of the Power Plant - 21 MWe power unit - 4.1 PLN million.
Jadwiga Coking Plant:
- adaptation to the requirements of BAT Conclusion 42 to reduce coal dust emissions (coal processing plant - coal tower) and BAT Conclusion 52 (sorting plant) - PLN 0.5 million,
- construction of a coke oven gas metering system in the rail car thawing facility - PLN 0.08 million,
- construction of an aerobic bioreactor - PLN 2.3 million.
Radlin Coking Plant:
- construction of the second line of the CDA and SRCM plant with an acid absorption column - PLN 43.7 million.
In 2022, PGWiR spent PLN 5.5 million on environmentally-friendly investments. The key tasks in this area included:
- reconstruction and modernization of the desalination plant - PLN 2.5 million,
- modernization of the rainwater drainage system - PLN 0.9 million,
- modernization of the water intake and pipeline system - PLN 0.8 million,
- modernization of the underground water pipeline system - PLN 1.3 million.
Impact of mining activity
An efficient process for rectification and remediation of mining damage caused by the operation of a mine is clearly the most important from the perspective of proper relations between the mining company and the local community. Appropriate controls regarding the materialization of risk are applied to mitigate these risks, which include, among others, measures such as:
- coordinating activities associated with preparation of: geological works program, geological and hydrological documentation, geological engineering documentation, deposit development plan and operations plan,
- places in jeopardy of mining damages are designated on the basis of the deposit extraction schedule, the target schedule and the section for which a given plan is prepared,
- oversight over compliance with provisions of concessions and environmental decisions,
- land survey and construction monitoring,
- monitoring the performance of rectification of mining damage, in terms of quantities and costs, on a monthly and annual basis,
- monitoring of the financial provision added for mining damage liabilities,
- cooperation with local government units within consultation teams, under the auspices of representatives of the Regional Mining Authority,
- exclusion of land from development or a deposit from mining,
- mining damage prevention activities to make sure that gravitational flow of surface water is preserved,
- application of preventive measures at the construction stage in order to properly secure the existing buildings and newly built buildings (including technical infrastructure) erected on mine areas.
Procedures related to rectification of damages
The legal obligation to rectify damages caused by the operation of the mine follows directly from Chapter VIII “Liability for damages” of the Geological and mining law of 9 June 2011. However a key role in the process of remediation of mining damages is played by relevant JSW’s internal regulations. Individual repair projects related to the repair of damage to public, local government and privately-owned facilities are prepared for implementation in accordance with the procedure set forth in Directive No. 9/XI/2022 of the President of the JSW Management Board of 13 September 2022 on the implementation of the obligations and rights of entrepreneurs, arising from the Geological and Mining Law of 9 June 2011 and in the Regulations on the procedure and rules of conduct in repairing and preventing damage caused by the operation of a mine approved by Resolution of the JSW Management Board No. 157/XI/2022 of 13 September 2022.
Completed tasks associated with repairing mining damage
In 2022, JSW mines fulfilled the plan of repairs of the damages related to the operation of mines, performing tasks for the total amount of PLN 107.4 million (including SRK’s liabilities – PLN 4.8 million). For comparison, in 2021 tasks for the total amount of PLN 99.9 million were executed.
In 2023 JSW expects to use the damage repair provision of PLN 99.4 million.
| TASKS ASSOCIATED WITH REPAIRING MINING DAMAGE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STATE SECTOR | LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECTOR | PRIVATE SECTOR | |||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 |
| 56 tasks | 52 tasks | 86 tasks | 65 tasks | 1 123 tasks | 1 332 tasks |
| PLN 29,7 m | PLN 26,8 m | PLN 23,7 m | PLN 31,5 m | PLN 49,2 mln zł | PLN 41,6 m |
In 2022, JSW mines secured funds for repairing damages in the amount of PLN 111.1 million.