The sinking of the 'Grzegorz’ shaft at the Sobieski mine in Jaworzno has been completed. This is one of the key projects of the Południowy Koncern Węglowy (Southern Coal Concern) and may be the last investment of its kind in the history of Polish hard coal mining.
The ceremonial completion took place on 13 July 2026. The shaft is 591.2 metres deep and 7.5 metres in diameter. Its construction is of a replacement nature – its purpose is to maintain the production capacity of the Sobieski mine and secure the resource base for decades to come. The start of exploitation in the 'Dąb’ deposit is planned for the fourth quarter of 2027.
– This investment is not just about metres of shaft, tonnes of steel or financial outlays. Its meaning is safety: the safety of the miners, the safety of the mine’s operation, the safety of Sobieski’s future, and ultimately Poland’s energy security – said Wojciech Kamiński, president of Południowy Koncern Węglowy.
Strategic investment for energy security
The Sobieski mine holds a concession for the 'Dąb’ deposit until 2063 – the longest valid concession in Polish hard coal mining. The deposit covers about 36 km² on the border of the Silesian and Lesser Poland voivodeships, under forested areas. Its operational resources are estimated at 92 million tonnes, with balance resources of around 1.1 billion tonnes.
The investment is also crucial for the social contract on the transformation of the hard coal sector, according to which Sobieski is to operate until 2049. Moreover, the shaft is key to long-term coal supply contracts for the 910 MW unit in Jaworzno. The distance from the mine to the power plant is less than 4 km – the shortest dedicated rail route of its kind in Poland.
Technical challenges and economic benefits
The construction was carried out using advanced technologies, including freezing of the rock mass down to 475 metres. About 18.6 thousand m³ of concrete of various classes were used, and around 2.5 thousand tonnes of materials were installed near the inlet at the 540-metre level.
The contractor was Przedsiębiorstwo Budowy Szybów (Shaft Construction Company), a Polish specialist firm. – Shaft building is one of the most difficult engineering tasks in mining. It is important that such a project is carried out based on domestic knowledge, domestic staff and domestic experience – emphasised Kamiński.
Thanks to the new shaft, the mine will simplify its model and reduce its current mining area by about 60%. This will significantly lower unit production costs. First effects are expected in 2028. Coal from the 'Dąb’ deposit has a calorific value of 23.5–25 MJ/kg and a chlorine content below 0.05%, which is particularly important for professional power generation.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. PTWP
