Ongoing projects
Water Treatment Plant
Water impacts of the Bogdanka mine include drainage of the mining plant (drainage of the Carbon and Jurassic aquifer layers) as well as utilization of mine pit water by Zakład Mechanicznej Przeróbki Węgla (Coal Preparation Plant) in the process of coal purification. To mitigate these impacts, closed-circuit water circulation is used in the areas of existing mining damages. Pit waters from our mine are sent to the Treatment Plant and then re-used in the underground mine pits for air-conditioning and fire protection purposes. Furthermore, underground water is used for the purpose of treating the ore at the coal preparation plant and for technological purposes at the Łęczyńska Energetyka company. Unused pit water and leachates from the extractive waste neutralization facility is discharged to Rów Żelazny and then to the Świnka River. Guided by the idea of circular economy, which is now integrated within the Company’s business strategy, Bogdanka strives for maximum utilization of underground pit water, analyzing and designing potential new applications.
Regulation of water relationships
In the subsidence areas of the mining land, reservoirs are constructed to store the excess of surface waters (including, among others, the reservoirs in the township of Nadrybie Dwór, by the Bogdanka-Stefanów road, and in the township of Kaniwola). Their construction is part of the nationwide “Stop Drought” program, as the reservoirs allow water to be retained and stored in a controlled manner; importantly, they also enhance landscape beauty. The reservoirs take the form of fish ponds and are interesting recreation venues. The mine also conducts hydrotechnical works linked to regulation of water relationships on farming land, by way of, among others, reconstruction of melioration ditches, construction of a water pumping station (the works on ditch C- 2018/2019, works in the township of Nadrybie Dwór-2019/2020). Furthermore, a pumping station with an equalization reservoir is being built in the Kobyłki township, as part of farming land drainage in the areas affected by mining damages. For the purposes of environmental protection, community interests and water management, the mine maintains passability of melioration ditches and high technical efficiency of culverts in the mining area. Maintenance in the mining area currently covers 30 km of melioration ditches.
Ongoing maintenance of melioration facilities in the mining area
For the purposes of environmental protection, community interests and water management, the mine maintains passability of melioration ditches and high technical efficiency of culverts in the mining area. Maintenance in the mining area covers 30 km of melioration ditches.
Mining waste management
Our mining waste management strives for the maximum the degree of waste utilization. In particular, mining waste is used for:
- reclamation of worked aggregate open casts in the local townships, to restore the original character of the reclaimed areas, which prevents, among others, creation of illegal dumping sites,
- reclamation of municipal waste landfills as covering material,
- pre-emptive reclamation prior to working a mining area,
- provision of hard surface paving of local township roads in the mining area and sites,
- production purposes, including in the Ożarów cement plant.
Utilization of waste continues to be at the level of 50% (i.e. approximately 2.5 million tons/year) of all mining waste produced.
Land reclamation
The reclamation of a mining waste neutralization site proceeds gradually, alongside formation of the scarp, in accordance with the “Program and Spatial Concept of Reclamation and Final Development of the Mining Waste Site in Bogdanka”. The concept envisages formation of the escarpment mass in stages (which is a very important element of gradual development), including by way of careful selection of green plants, both in terms of height (tall insulation, tall, low and medium, decorative, grassland) as well as the plant species. At present, reclamation is conducted on the area of 6 ha. The area of the spoil tip is analyzed in terms of utilization for the purposes of sports, recreation, tourism, and even energy generation (an RES farm).
Maintenance of the Nadrybie Educational Trail
The nature trail was developed in 2015, in a subsidence basin formed as a result of mining works conducted in the 1990s. Since that time, the biodiversity of the area has grown steadily, which has led to creation of the trail, with information boards along the way describing the natural beauty of this area, as well as resting stops. The trail plays a very important role in the education of young generations and raising their awareness of the imperative of nature protection. Furthermore, it enhances the natural and landscape beauty of the local area, and is an attractive angling site for the local community. Lubelski Węgiel maintains the trail and is responsible for its ongoing care.
Mining waste as a by-product
In 2021, LW Bogdanka started a project entitled “Mining waste as a new natural by-product of Bogdanka mine.” On 5 May 2022, the mine obtained the Decision of the Lubelskie Voivodeship Marshal, which recognizes Carboniferous shale of fraction 20-50 mm, in the amount of 50,000 Mg/year, so far classified as waste designated by code 010412, as a by-product for cement production. Work is continuing on increasing the utilization of this by-product in the ceramic industry, in production of construction materials. The Company continuously seeks out new possibilities of mining waste utilization, e.g. in production of chemical fertilizers or livestock feeds. A parallel project: “MINRESCUE - from mining waste to valuable resources”, is working on a technology utilizing mining waste in concrete mixtures. The project is likely to lower the amount of materials stored on-site, while at the same time generating financial gains and reducing environmental impact.
MINRESCUE - from mining waste to valuable resources
The project’s objective is to develop a technology of utilizing mining waste in concrete mixtures, which would create a profitable method of using gangue kept in the beneficiaries’ storage yards. The project is likely to lower the amount of materials stored on-site, while at the same time generating financial gains and reducing environmental impact.
Carbon Footprint Team
At present, the LW Bogdanka Group conducts computations of its carbon footprint, i.e. a calculation of its total emissions of greenhouse gases generated directly and indirectly in the entire production process. In the first stage of this project, the dedicated Carbon Footprint Team, together with an external advisor, developed a tailor-made method covering Bogdanka’s whole value chain. In the second stage, the Team is working on the automation of the carbon footprint computation process by a dedicated IT system.
Noteworthy, when known, the value of carbon footprint in Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 paves the way to emission optimization and, importantly, allows the carbon footprint value to be communicated to external stakeholders, as a part of the climate protection and climate change mitigation measures.
Łęczyński Klaster Energii
In June 2022, a letter of intent was signed and on 17 February 2023, the strategy of the Łęczyński Energy Cluster, developed in cooperation with the Polish Chamber of Energy Clusters and RES, was established and announced. The initiator of the idea is LW Bogdanka S.A., while the signatories of the cooperation agreement for the establishment of the Łęczyński Energy Cluster included 10 entities. The newly formed Cluster includes: Lubelski Węgiel Bogdanka - the Cluster Leader, Łęczyńska Energetyka - the Coordinator, Łęczna County, the City of Łęczna, the mining municipalities of the Łęczna County and the Lublin University of Technology to guarantee the innovation of the implemented solutions. The main tasks of the cluster will be cooperation in the development of distributed energy, building a local energy market to support the National Power System, supporting entrepreneurship, access to cheaper clean energy and increasing energy security in the region. The mine will generate energy for its own needs, as well as to meet the energy needs of local stakeholders in the Łęczna County. The overarching goal is to achieve the highest possible degree of self-sufficiency, intelligently manage generated energy to achieve an optimal economic outcome, store or resell surplus unconsumed energy on the Polish Power Exchange (TGE) or the balancing market.
Reservoir construction in Nadrybie Wieś
The aim of the project is to create a wooded recreational space in the mining area situated in the Puchaczów Township. The work covers approximately 12.34 ha of land owned by the mine. The land has been purchased in view of the existing mining damage. The project proceeded in stages. For the purposes of forming the land profile, mining waste of approximately 245 thousand tons was used, which was then covered by soil mass. One of the important elements of the reclamation project was creation of a fish pond of the surface area of 1.60 ha, to provide protection of water resources and serve agrotourism purposes. The new reservoir has contributed to protection of water relationships in the area, better land use, as well as land protection against local inundations. The final stage of the project was biological reclamation, including agrotechnical works, planting of trees and shrubs, and formation of footpaths. The project increased the wooded area of the Puchaczów Township. The land is now subject to ongoing reclamation works.
Plantings and greenery cultivation
The expand of new leafy areas created at Bogdanka mine’s initiative is the best reflection of the importance that the Company attaches to greenery and the role of trees in the surroundings.
Taking up land for industrial activity, among others connected with the ongoing development of the mining waste neutralization site, is compensated by parallel nature reclamation measures undertaken by the Company, in the form of planting tree seedlings and seasonal cultivation care to ensure permanent growth of the vegetation. In 2018-2019, the mine planted approximately 30,000 new trees on the area of about 7 ha. In the same period, together with Fundacja Krajobrazy (Landscapes Foundation), an educational project: “Large trees for the Łęczna county” was implemented, which organized workshops, a competition for schools, prepared a publication for educators as well as... brought large shapely trees planted in Łęczna and the winner school of the competition.
