1434 JUST TRANSITION OF THE MINING SECTOR: TRANSFORMATION OF THE BRZESZCZE MINE INTO A MULTIFUNCTIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY HUB *J. Warchał1,2 1Południowy Koncern Węglowy S.A. (*Presenting author: Jacek.Warchal@pkw-sa.pl) 2International Centre of Excellence for Coal Mine Methane in Poland (ICE-CMM Poland) ABSTRACT The transformation of the mining sector in Poland is increasingly focused on facilities that have entered the closure phase. Although production levels are reduced at this stage, such mines continue to generate substantial environmental impacts and incur high operational costs. A representative example is the Brzeszcze Mine, a hard coal operation functioning under intensifying regulatory, energy, and environmental constraints. The cessation or limitation of extraction activities does not eliminate the mine’s ongoing responsibilities toward the surrounding environment and local communities. In particular, the long-term dewatering of underground workings and the discharge of saline mine waters constitute persistent technical, environmental, and socio-economic challenges. These processes require sustained management to mitigate risks related to groundwater alteration, surface water salinization, land subsidence, and infrastructure degradation. This paper proposes a practical and scalable model for transforming the Brzeszcze Mine into an integrated environmental and energy hub. The concept combines comprehensive mine water management, recovery of mineral resources from saline waters, the integration of renewable energy sources, and the capture and utilization of methane. The proposed framework emphasizes technological feasibility under real industrial conditions, economic rationality, and social acceptability. The case study demonstrates how existing mining infrastructure can be repurposed to support sectoral transition processes. By leveraging residual assets and environmental management obligations, the proposed model contributes to risk reduction, stakeholder trust-building, and the generation of sustainable value both during the closure phase and in the post-mining period. KEYWORDS Mining transformation, mine water, post-mining infrastructure, environmental management, methane management, just transition, scalable industrial solutions. 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The transformation of the mining sector in Poland increasingly affects facilities that are either in the process of phasing out extraction activities or gradually losing their economic viability. One such facility is the Brzeszcze Mining Plant, owned by Południowy Koncern Węglowy S.A., which represents a typical hard coal mine operating under escalating cost pressures, tightening regulatory requirements, and growing environmental constraints. The declining competitiveness of domestic coal production, the implications of climate and energy policies, and structural changes in the energy market collectively weaken the economic rationale for maintaining the traditional production function of such facilities. However, the cessation or substantial reduction of mining operations does not terminate a mine’s interaction with its surrounding environment. The Brzeszcze Mine, similarly to other long-established mining facilities located in historically industrialized regions, generates long-term environmental liabilities. Among the most significant obligations is the requirement for continuous dewatering of underground
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