JSW : End of the firefighting operation at KWK Pniówek

The firefighting operation at the Pniówek mine which had been carried out since 6 December 2023 ended today (20 December 2023). Mine rescue workers sealed off longwall N-10 with explosion stoppings and a water plug.

In the first stage of the operation, five explosion stoppings and one water plug were built. However, due to the need to further seal off the area, two more explosion stoppings had to be built. After they were completed, the firefighting operation was terminated. During the operation, in the sealed off area, rescue workers put up chromatographic lines, which allow continuous monitoring of the composition of the atmosphere in the sealed off workings. At the same time, as part of prevention works, inert gases are injected into the isolated area to displace oxygen from the atmosphere.

In connection with the 6 December incident, the management board of Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa adopted a resolution on the occurrence of force majeure at JSW and informing the Company's business partners about it. The analyses carried out show that the incident may cause the output of the Pniówek mine to decrease by 350,000 tons in 2024.

The incident occurred on 6 December. At 10:12 p.m. in the Pniówek mine in the area of longwall N-10 at level 830, sensors recorded elevated values of carbon monoxide indicating the occurrence of a fire in the area. In accordance with procedures, the crew was withdrawn from the longwall area. The longwall was not in operation. 7 employees of a third-party company were withdrawn. It was decided to start a firefighting operation, which ended today (20 December 2023).