Bogdanka secures license to extract coal from Ostrów deposit

LW Bogdanka, the most advanced and the most efficient hard coal mine in Poland,  part of the Enea Group, one of the leaders of the Polish energy sector, has received a Ministry of the Environment license to extract hard coal from the Ostrów deposit in Ludwin mining zone, which possesses recoverable resources of c. 186 million metric tons.

This development is a key step towards execution of the plan to double the company’s recoverable resources, announced in the Strategy of LW Bogdanka, Extraction Segment of the Enea Group for 2025. Additionally, LW Bogdanka is planning to expand resources of the Bogdanka coalfield by another c. 33 million tons. In total, Bogdanka will increase its resources from c. 227 million tons currently to c. 446 million tons, extending the mine’s useful life to around 50 years (from c. 25 years at the present time). 

– Securing the license to mine coal from the Ostrow deposit is a very important step in the execution of the plan, announced in our Strategy, to double the company’s recoverable resources. This increase of recoverable resources gives us an opportunity for long-term planning, it also secures the development of the mine and therefore, ensures job stability for new generations of miners - said Krzysztof Szlaga, the CEO of Lubelski Węgiel Bogdanka. It is also the key to maintain Bogdanka’s position as one of the most important companies in the region, contributing to the development of the Lublin area. An increase in recoverable resources also ensures stable resource base for the Enea Group, of which we are part of, the president of LW Bogdanka said.

Mining of the Ostrów deposit is planned in two stages. In the first stage, mining will be conducted using the existing underground infrastructure. The first longwall will start operations around the year 2020. Development of vertical access to the deposit and the construction of essential facilities and technical infrastructure are planned in the second stage, in 2025-2030. According to preliminary estimates, combined expenses related to development of the infrastructure, in real terms, total PLN 1.2-1.3bn. Target production levels are expected to be achieved around the year 2032. 

At the same time, the company is still considering deposits K-6 and K-7 as well as Orzechów as further potential mining areas.