Construction works have officially begun in Debiensko

On Saturday, 3rd December, the eve of St. Barbara holiday, the saint patron of miners, were officially started construction works for the reopening of Debiensko mine, which represents the most significant development project for the group New World Resources Plc., the owner of OKD, in the Polish town Czerwionka-Leszczyny.

Milestone in the growth strategy of NWR

NWR Chairman Mike Salamon described in a statement this event as a key milestone in achieving the growth strategy of the company. "We are proud to announce the start of construction work in a place where we are prepared to invest more than half a billion Euro, and where we will create over two thousand jobs in the future. This is the first mine, which will be opened in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin in the last more than two decades," said Salamon. The first coal will be mined in Debiensko in 2017 and projected annual production will reach 2 million tons. Total coal reserve in the area is 190 million tons, 7/8 should be a coking coal.

NWR and NWR KARBONIA representatives officially launched construction works by symbolic dig at the site for the first of two planned slopes. Start of construction of the second one is expected next summer. It also began a detailed technical planning of other elements for the overall access to the underground, whose completion is expected in late March 2012.

St. Barbara's celebration after 11 years

Ceremonial day in Czerwionce where the celebration of Saint Barbara returned after 11 years, began by march of mining brass band to a local church, where Victor Skworc, Archbishop of Katowice served Church Mass. When he arrived to the beautifully renovated Hall of Traditions in Debiensko mine, he honored at the repaired monument  the memory of miners who died in the mine.
The ceremony was in the spirit of a new beginning - for mine, municipality, citizens and NWR. "11 years of silence and stagnation came to an end. Debiensko Mine will be again a place pulsing with life, where more than two thousand people will find jobs where they can earn good money for good work. The life is coming back to the region," Jerzy Klinowski, operating officer of NWR KARBONIA, said in his speech for opening the mine. Ján Fabián, OKD Director for Development and Strategy, who is responsible for the project in NWR, highlighted how important for Europe is the coal mining in Poland.

The celebration of Saint Barbara wouldn´t be complete without the traditional jump over the skin. The miner's guild admitted students of mining fields of knowledge, which were at a local high technical school opened thanks to the support of NWR.

Marek Síbrt