The coal exploitation in the Upper Silesia region (along the Vistula River) triggers the strata seismic

activity, characterized by very high energy, which can create mining damage of the surface objects, without

any noticeable damages in the underground mining structures. It is assumed that the appearance of the

high energy seismic events is the result of faults’ activation in the vicinity of the mining excavation. This

paper presents the analysis of a case study of one coal mine, where during exploitation of the longwall

panel no. 729, the high energy seismic events occurred in the faulty neighborhood. The authors had analyzed

the cause of the presented seismic events, described the methods of energy decreasing and applied

methods of prevention in the selected mining region. The analysis concluded that the cause of the high

energy seismic events, during the exploitation of the longwall panel no. 729 was the rapid displacements

on the fault surface. The fault’s movements arose in the overburden, about 250 m above the excavated

longwall panel, and they were strictly connected to the cracking of the thick sandstone layer.

The paper presents a brief outline of the European Union Climate and Energy Package in early 2020, as well as the EU’s plans in this respect until 2030 (Winter Package and Green Deal) and even further until 2050 (EU’s climate neutral target). Also the current condition of power generation in Poland and challenges for Polish energy sector in the nearest future are discussed. The Energy Policy of Poland until 2040 (EPP 2040) is analysed in relation to possible risks and dangers. Some improvements are proposed in regard to the implementation of the document. In addition, the current volume and perspectives of hard coal and lignite mining in Poland until 2040 are discussed and compared with an expected demand for coal in Polish power plants and combined heat and power stations. On the basis of the prognosis of energy consumption in the period 2031-2040, there seems to appear a serious risk of energy shortage due to a possible delay in a nuclear power project and lack of lignite mining at the level defined in EPP 2040 policy. Therefore, some variants of providing the security of energy supplies are taken into account and thoroughly analysed in the paper.

The article assesses the production capacity of the Polish Power System, taking into account the military operations in Ukraine and the related resource crisis. An analysis was made of how the war in Ukraine will affect the validity of Poland’s energy policy adopted a year ago. The sensitivity of the Polish Energy System to the import of energy resources from Russia was assessed as well as the possibilities of filling the gap caused by the lack of these raw materials were described and measures were proposed. It shows how electricity prices in the EU countries developed in the last year and what the energy mix of these countries looked like. Alternative scenarios for the transformation of the domestic system were discussed, including the coal – renewable energy – nuclear energy scenario, with the minimization of gas as a fuel of the transition period.

The article describes the behaviour of the flysch rock massif (Carpathian flysch) during the drilling of three tunnels in the preliminary lining. These tunnels were excavated in: “Naprawa”, “Laliki”, and “Świnna Poręba”. The distance between these tunnels in a straight line was 50 km to 90 km. The results of the displacement of the contours of these tunnels and their convergence were analysed in detail. These values were compared with the indices used to assess the behaviour of the rock mass in the tunnel environment (Zasławski index and Hoek index) and the adopted limit values of displacements and deformations. On this basis, a critical analysis of the selection of initial supports in the completed tunnels was made, showing errors at the design stage.

The paper discusses a variety of serious challenges facing the Polish energy sector until 2040. These challenging tasks largely result from intensive works in the European Union on the finalisation of measures implementing a zero-carbon economy, as well as social (Covid-19), political and military events, both global and regional (war in Ukraine). After analysing the present condition of the energy sector, the authors proposed a modification of Poland’s energy policy, pointing out that the transformation of the national electricity system towards zero-carbon energy requires, on the one hand, speeding up investments in renewable sources, but on the other hand, insuring this process by own controllable generation sources. The paper also defines the conditions that should be met to achieve the highest possible share of non-carbon energy in the national energy mix by 2040.

The role of the hard coal mining sector in ensuring energy security of the country has been presented in the paper. An analysis of its current status was made based on the results obtained by the sector in 2017. Moreover, the determinants which are the precondition for further sustainable and efficient operation in the years to come have been defined.

The national power industry is based primarily on its own energy mineral resources such as hard and brown coal. Approximately 80% of electrical energy production from these minerals gives us complete energy independence and the cost of its production from coal is the lowest in comparison to other sources. Poland has, for many decades had vast resources of these minerals, the experience of their extraction and processing, the scientific-design facilities and technical factories manufacturing machines and equipment for own needs, as well as for export. Nowadays coal is and should be an important source of electrical energy and heat for the next 25–50 years, because it is one of the most reliable and price acceptable energy sources. This policy may be disturbed over the coming decades due to the depletion of active resources of hard and brown coal. The conditions for new mines development as well as for all coal mining sector development in Poland are very complicated in terms of legislation, environment, economy and image. The authors propose a set of strategic changes in the formal conditions for acquiring mining licenses. The article gives a signal to institutions responsible for national security that without proposed changes implementation in the legal and formal process it, will probably not be possible to build next brown coal, hard coal, zinc and lead ore or other minerals new mines.