Poland’s Ministry of Climate and Environment has granted Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa (JSW) a license to explore the “Dębieńsko 1” hard coal and coal-bed methane deposit.
“This is a strategic step that opens the way to a significant increase in coking coal reserves and extends the operating life of the Knurów-Szczygłowice mine,” Tomasz Siemieniec, head of JSW’s Press Office Team, told us.
The Dębieńsko deposit, located in Czerwionka-Leszczyny, is estimated to contain an impressive 190 million tonnes of coal, making it the largest deposit in Poland. The deposit had also attracted the interest of Silesian Coal International Group of Companies, a firm linked to the German company HMS Bergbau, as we previously reported.
A Social Campaign and JSW’s Appeal Decided the Outcome
Both JSW and Silesian Coal International Group of Companies competed for access to the “Dębieńsko 1” deposit through a tender process. The site’s estimated reserves of 190 million tonnes make it the largest coal deposit in Poland, and the competition generated considerable public interest.
Mining licenses in Poland are issued by the Ministry of Climate and Environment. Initially, the only application under consideration was the one submitted by Silesian Coal International Group of Companies. However, a public campaign that had been ongoing since 2024, combined with JSW’s appeal and a newly submitted application, ultimately changed the course of the proceedings.
License Awarded to JSW
“After reviewing the documentation and conducting a substantive assessment of both applications, the licensing authority rated JSW’s proposal more highly, which resulted in us being granted the right to carry out exploration work,” explained Tomasz Siemieniec.
Under the license, JSW will construct mining workings from which exploration boreholes will be drilled. The company will then conduct detailed laboratory analyses of the extracted cores and samples. The project will culminate in the formal documentation of the coking coal and methane deposit, enabling a precise assessment of its geological, quality, and economic parameters.
The “Dębieńsko 1” deposit is located along the eastern boundary of the Knurów-Szczygłowice mine, allowing it to be developed in the future using existing underground and surface infrastructure.
“A Breakthrough Moment for Us”
Coking coal, the resource covered by the license, is classified as a critical raw material for the European Union’s economy. In 2022, the EU produced approximately 14–15 million tonnes of coking coal, of which JSW accounted for around 11 million tonnes.
Demand for coking coal increased further after imports from Russia were halted following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, global demand for steel continues to grow, and coking coal remains an essential component in steel production.
“Obtaining the license to explore the ‘Dębieńsko 1’ deposit is a breakthrough moment for us. This area is of key importance to the future of the Knurów-Szczygłowice mine and the entire JSW Group. Thanks to this decision, we can begin activities that will allow us to accurately assess the deposit’s potential and prepare for its rational development,” Adam Rozmus, JSW’s Deputy CEO for Technical and Operational Affairs, told the media.
“Access to a new deposit will not only increase JSW’s resource base, but will also strengthen the raw-material security of the European steel industry,” Tomasz Siemieniec emphasized.