PG Silesia from Bumech Group launches mining on new wall

PG Silesia (PGS), part of the Bumech Group, begins the extraction of wall 163 on layer 315 approximately 840 meters underground, after a year of preparation. The mineable coal resources in Czechowice-Dziedzice on this wall are estimated at 861,000 tons. Due to the technical parameters of coal from this region, including its low content of ash, low sulfur content, and high calorific value, it is a fuel classified as the highest class product in the solid fuel market. Previously, the board of PG Silesia decided to file for the commencement of restructuring proceedings in a reorganization mode, which will allow rebuilding the company’s stable financial position in the long term.

The mine in Czechowice-Dziedzice operates in a single-wall system with a periodic transition to a two-wall system. The wall launched at the end of October, with a length of up to 260 meters and the height of the coal bed up to 3.2 meters, is to be exploited, like the previous one, with a wall system with a roof collapse. Extraction takes place in the Bestwina and Miedźna municipalities.

The exploitation of wall 163 is planned for a period of approximately 9 months, and daily output is expected to range from 4300 to 5000 tons per day.

“The transition of crews from the previous wall to the new one must be carried out smoothly, without any downtime. The aim is to maintain the size of extraction and also to ensure safety movement and workers,” emphasizes Michał Kończak, Vice President of PG Silesia and Vice President of Bumech.

Silesia Mine has great potential. In recent years it has been invested in and is now considered one of the most modern mines. All key elements of the mining infrastructure have been renovated, modernized, or replaced with new ones. Silesia also has one of the most modern methane drainage stations in the entire Polish mining industry. It cost PLN 8 million and is fully automated and can work autonomously thanks to a remote control system.

In 2023, a cogeneration plant powered by methane was launched at the mine. The installation consists of two units each with an electrical output of around 3.5 MW and a similar heat output. By the end of this year, a third unit with an output of about 2 MW is also expected to be launched. The installation is powered by gas from the mine’s methane drainage. The energy produced in this way covers a large part of the mine’s electricity demand and almost all its heat demand.

Mining Enterprise Silesia also uses energy from photovoltaic installations located at the mine site and two photovoltaic islands in Goczałkowice and Kaniów, which provide energy necessary for the function of the pumping stations in Goczałkowice and Kaniów. They provide respectively up to 90% of the energy needed for the pumping station in Goczałkowice, and more than 20% of electricity for the installation in Kaniów. It is also worth mentioning that green energy is also produced in solar installations located on the roofs of buildings belonging to PG Silesia, with a total capacity of approx. 0.6 MW.

Mining Enterprise Silesia produces hard coal mainly for the energy sector, but also specific types of hard coal for retail sales. The company belongs to Bumech, which acquired it from the Czech Energy-Industrial Holding (EPH) in 2021.

In mid-October of this year, PG Silesia announced its intention to apply for the commencement of restructuring proceedings. This decision was made after numerous previous attempts at cost and organizational restructuring, which however did not yield the expected results. Both external and internal factors significantly contributed to the worsening of the situation. The PGS Board judged that restructuring will allow for the rebuilding of the company’s stable financial position in the long term. Consequently, on October 24, 2024, PGS officially submitted an application to open the recovery proceeding.