Poland is looking for a substitute for lithium and other rare earth metals
Poland is exploring the possibility of using a substitute for lithium and other rare earth metals. „The raw materials policy defines those raw materials that are used today. Today it is apparent that the energy transition makes it necessary to develop economic areas, which we should launch in our country. If we define the areas that we will launch in Poland, then we can adjust the needs for raw materials. Perhaps some of these needs are met, so we will open a discussion and try to introduce the point of view that not only critical raw materials are necessary, but they can also be replaced by other generally available raw materials, such as rare earth metals, lithium,” said Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment Piotr Dziadzio, Chief Geologist of the Country.
„We should look for substitutions for raw materials and that is what we are doing. I do not want to reveal the details now, but in the coming weeks there may be additional information on this subject,” added minister Dziadzio.
Lithium is used for the production of electric car batteries, among others. Rare earth metals are used to make semiconductors, which are an essential element of electronics, military equipment or vehicles. They are also needed for the energy transition.
Wojciech Jakóbik / Jedrzej Stachura
Bogdanka’s new strategy to turn the mine green
Bogdanka Lubelski Węgiel presented a development strategy that involves more coal mining until the mine is closed in Poland, and in the meantime investments in renewables, their components and recycling.
„The average level of coal production in 2023-2025 will be approx. 9.1 million tonnes, in the years 2026-2030 approx. 10.1 million tonnes, and in 2031-2040 approx. 9.1 million tons,” the new Bogdanka strategy announced in Lublin on May 17 said. Bogdanka intends to maintain more than half of the market share of coal.
One of the priorities is to „guarantee production by 2049 by starting production from the K-6 and K-7 resource base in 2024 and preparing for the availability of a vertical Ostrów field, which after 2038 will guarantee the flexibility and energy security of the state in the energy transition.” The social contract with Polish miners provides for the pahse-out of mines by 2049.
The company also declares „support for Ukraine’s energy recovery through the use of Bogdanka’s competencies and resources, which can actively support the reconstruction of critical infrastructure in Ukraine after the war.”
Bogdanka is also expected to develop multi-resource mining based on the exploration and commercial extraction of a number of minerals crucial for sustainable transformation and attractive to the market. The aim is also to produce res components, i.e. foundation baskets for wind farms and structures for the installation of PV panels. The mine also wants to scale up RES installations to diversify Bogdanka’s revenue stream by adding 500MW RES installations and selling the energy produced by them, as well as trading batteries and PV waste.
LW Bogdanka / Wojciech Jakóbik