There are many natural mineral resources in
Poland:
The most important is coal. However, there
are also lignite, natural gas, oil, sulphur and
metal ores, such as copper, lead and zinc.
We can also find salt deposits, which are
used in chemical industry.
This low-quality fuel has
been used on a large
scale for the production
of electricity, despite its
very damaging effect on
the environment. Plans
called for gradual
reduction of lignite
extraction and use in
the 1990s.
Extracted mostly in Upper Silesia, Lower Silesia, and in the southeastern part of the country. Production expanded in the 1960s and 1970s, then declined in the next decade. In 1989 domestic production covered 43 percent of the country's total requirement. Nowadays, biggest amount of gas in Poland comes from Russia.
It is a very eco-friendly but expensive source of energy in our country.
A major offshore oilfield was discovered in the Baltic Sea in 1985. Including that field and the older fields in the Carpathian Mountains in southeastern Poland, total oil reserves were estimated at 100 million tons in 1990.
Now Poland also depends on Russian oil resources.
Sulphur is Poland's most important nonmetallic export mineral. Good geological conditions have supported large-scale operations in three mines producing about 5 million tons annually.
Copper is extracted in large quantities at ten mines.
Poland had the world's fifth-largest deposits of lead and zinc. The annual output of lead and zinc ores was about 5 million tons.
Coal is Poland's most important mineral resource. In 1980 total reserves were estimated at 130 billion tons. The largest coal deposits are located in Upper Silesia in the southwestern part of the country.
In Rybnik there are 9 coal mines, which are the main employer in our region.
Although coal is the most common fuel in our houses, it is very harmful for the environment and our health.
The amount of smog in Rybnik only has gone beyond the safe level, which caused a huge argument with our city hall.
At the beginning of the year 2015, there was a strike of miners who were demanding guarantee of emplyment. The Prime Minister wanted to close down four mines in our region but the miners did not give up and their protest was successful.
One of the biggest problems in Silesia is the financial problem, which was created by extremely high cost of coal extraction. The costs are do high, that it is more economical to import coal from abroad. This situation may result in a serious crisis.
Hard coal - million tons 101.0
Brown coal - million tons 61.1
Coke - million tons 10.2
Fuel oils - million tons 4.6
Petrol (incl. aviation fuel) - million
tons 4.6
Diesel oil - million tons 5.3
Natural gas - cubic hectometres
5,608
Electricity - TWh 150.8
10%
42%
23%
13%
12%
other
coal
oil
natural gas
lignite
Depletion of natural resources is the ratio of the actual stock to the remaining reserve lifetime (focusing on 25 years).In Poland a bigger problem than depletion of natural resources is the problem of environment that forced citizens and the government to look for alternative sources of energy. Sources, that will not harm the environment.
Other sources of energy will give us not only the opportunity to save minerals and fuels, but also the choice and variety of energy that can be used in our houses.
Type of installation Quantity Power (MW)
Biogas power stations 207 136.319
Biomass power stations 29 876.108
Photovoltaic power
stations9 1.289
Wind power stations 743 2644.898
Hydroelectric power
stations771 966.236
CO-fired technology 41 n/a
Poland is ranked 5th in
the EU in terms of
production of primary
energy from solid
biomass. Poland is also
a leader among the
new EU member states
in terms of total
installed capacity of
wind farms.
Type of energy % of potential
Wood 100%
Energy crops 100%
Wind energy 27%
Photovoltanic 100%
Hydropower 62%
There are many reasons for the
rapid development of renewable
energy in Poland:
- dynamic economic growth
- the need to reduce the amount
of municipal waste
- good natural wind conditions
- potential to get biogas
- government investments in
renewable energy sources
Recently there have been a lot of bailouts for
solar energy in individual properties. A
nuclear family could apply to the city council
for a refund of 30%. More and more houses
use this type of energy to save both money
and effort. It is especially popular to heat
water. It gives us maximum benefit with the
minimum of exertion.