Polish mine threatens residents? There is a motion to revoke the coal mining concession

• Frank Bold points out that the mine has stopped repairing the damage and paying the amounts due under the concluded settlements, which violates the concession rules and poses a threat to the safety of the residents of Goczałkowice-Zdrój.
• In his statement, Frank Bold emphasizes that the municipal council supports these actions.
• Due to financial problems, the Silesia Mining Company started restructuring proceedings in November 2024.

"Cracked walls of houses threatening to collapse, crooked floors, forced removals and constant expensive repairs are the reality in this spa town," the foundation wrote in a press release.

As Frank Bold points out, even before the proceedings were opened , the mine stopped repairing the damage caused in the Goczałkowice-Zdrój area and settling liabilities resulting from the concluded settlements concerning mining damage.

"As long as the mine operates, damage will continue to occur"

- The mine believes that it is unable to continue repairing the damage to the extent it has done so far. However, in accordance with the content of the concession and mining and geological law, it is obliged to do so - says Katarzyna Leśko, legal adviser at Frank Bold. - Failure to do so means that the mine does not meet the conditions specified in the concession, and this is the basis for its withdrawal. In the current stalemate, the residents are suffering, the minister can close it down. As long as the mine operates, the damage will continue to occur and it is the mine that is obliged to repair it. The State Treasury will only take over liability for the damage when the entrepreneur ceases to exist - emphasizes Katarzyna Leśko.

The motion - as Frank Bold informs - to revoke the mine's concession is supported by the local government. In March of this year, the municipal council passed a resolution in which it supported the actions of the organization's lawyers.

- The Goczałkowice-Zdrój commune has been taking legal action against the hard coal mining concession granted to PG Silesia since 2013 - says Gabriela Placha, mayor of the Goczałkowice-Zdrój commune, quoted in a press release issued by Frank Bold. - Unfortunately, the court proceedings to date have been limited mainly to formal issues. Therefore, we support the activities of social organizations that can actually influence the course of the case and contribute new arguments. The application submitted by the Frank Bold Foundation to revoke the concession is a chance for us to consider this case more quickly and reliably - emphasizes Gabriela Placha.

Bumech claims that PG Silesia has not received any formal letter

The management board of Bumech - which owns the Silesia mine - announced in a statement on May 8 that it had received information from the media about the submission of an application to the Minister of Climate and Environment to withdraw the mining concession.

"The argument given as an argument was the cessation by Przedsiębiorstwo Górnicze Silesia sp. z o. o. in the restructuring of the implementation of the removal of mining damage and payments for it to the residents of Goczałkowice-Zdrój, which - according to Frank Bold - is to violate the conditions of the concession held by PG Silesia, which is the basis for its withdrawal" - Bumech indicates in the press release.

The company emphasizes that at present PG Silesia has not received any formal letter regarding the matter.

"In the opinion of the company's management board, the submitted application is unfounded and the arguments used therein are misguided . The basic argument of the complainants is the suspension of the removal and payment for mining damage. The reference to the legal status of PG Silesia, which after the opening of the restructuring proceedings cannot make payments for liabilities arising before the date of opening of the restructuring proceedings, including liabilities for mining damage, has been completely omitted. PG Silesia has no legal possibility of settling them immediately - the execution of these payments has been suspended until the restructuring arrangement is approved."

The Issuer also informs that, according to the information received from PG Silesia, current liabilities – i.e. those arising after the opening of the restructuring proceedings – including those resulting from mining damage, are being serviced.

"According to the information held by the issuer's management board, if necessary, PG Silesia will take all necessary and available legal steps to maintain the right to continue operating the mine, and therefore to continue operations in order to successfully complete the restructuring process and repay all PG Silesia creditors covered by the ongoing restructuring proceedings," Bumech noted in a press release.