There are many natural mineral resources in

Poland:

The most important is coal. However, there

are also lignite, natural gas, oil, sulphur and

metal ores, such as copper, lead and zinc.

We can also find salt deposits, which are

used in chemical industry.

This low-quality fuel has

been used on a large

scale for the production

of electricity, despite its

very damaging effect on

the environment. Plans

called for gradual

reduction of lignite

extraction and use in

the 1990s.

Extracted mostly in Upper Silesia, Lower Silesia, and in the southeastern part of the country. Production expanded in the 1960s and 1970s, then declined in the next decade. In 1989 domestic production covered 43 percent of the country's total requirement. Nowadays, biggest amount of gas in Poland comes from Russia.

It is a very eco-friendly but expensive source of energy in our country.

A major offshore oilfield was discovered in the Baltic Sea in 1985. Including that field and the older fields in the Carpathian Mountains in southeastern Poland, total oil reserves were estimated at 100 million tons in 1990.

Now Poland also depends on Russian oil resources.

Sulphur is Poland's most important nonmetallic export mineral. Good geological conditions have supported large-scale operations in three mines producing about 5 million tons annually.

Copper is extracted in large quantities at ten mines.

Poland had the world's fifth-largest deposits of lead and zinc. The annual output of lead and zinc ores was about 5 million tons.

Coal is Poland's most important mineral resource. In 1980 total reserves were estimated at 130 billion tons. The largest coal deposits are located in Upper Silesia in the southwestern part of the country.

In Rybnik there are 9 coal mines, which are the main employer in our region.

Although coal is the most common fuel in our houses, it is very harmful for the environment and our health.

The amount of smog in Rybnik only has gone beyond the safe level, which caused a huge argument with our city hall.

At the beginning of the year 2015, there was a strike of miners who were demanding guarantee of emplyment. The Prime Minister wanted to close down four mines in our region but the miners did not give up and their protest was successful.

One of the biggest problems in Silesia is the financial problem, which was created by extremely high cost of coal extraction. The costs are do high, that it is more economical to import coal from abroad. This situation may result in a serious crisis.

Hard coal - million tons 101.0

Brown coal - million tons 61.1

Coke - million tons 10.2

Fuel oils - million tons 4.6

Petrol (incl. aviation fuel) - million

tons 4.6

Diesel oil - million tons 5.3

Natural gas - cubic hectometres

5,608

Electricity - TWh 150.8

10%

42%

23%

13%

12%

other

coal

oil

natural gas

lignite

Depletion of natural resources is the ratio of the actual stock to the remaining reserve lifetime (focusing on 25 years).In Poland a bigger problem than depletion of natural resources is the problem of environment that forced citizens and the government to look for alternative sources of energy. Sources, that will not harm the environment.

Other sources of energy will give us not only the opportunity to save minerals and fuels, but also the choice and variety of energy that can be used in our houses.

Type of installation Quantity Power (MW)

Biogas power stations 207 136.319

Biomass power stations 29 876.108

Photovoltaic power

stations9 1.289

Wind power stations 743 2644.898

Hydroelectric power

stations771 966.236

CO-fired technology 41 n/a

Poland is ranked 5th in

the EU in terms of

production of primary

energy from solid

biomass. Poland is also

a leader among the

new EU member states

in terms of total

installed capacity of

wind farms.

Type of energy % of potential

Wood 100%

Energy crops 100%

Wind energy 27%

Photovoltanic 100%

Hydropower 62%

There are many reasons for the

rapid development of renewable

energy in Poland:

- dynamic economic growth

- the need to reduce the amount

of municipal waste

- good natural wind conditions

- potential to get biogas

- government investments in

renewable energy sources

Recently there have been a lot of bailouts for

solar energy in individual properties. A

nuclear family could apply to the city council

for a refund of 30%. More and more houses

use this type of energy to save both money

and effort. It is especially popular to heat

water. It gives us maximum benefit with the

minimum of exertion.