The Bełchatów coal mine is a huge open-pit mining plant in Poland, in operation since 1955. With an estimated 1,930 million tonnes of lignite coal reserves, it is among Poland’s greatest coal deposits [1].
The Belchatow Mine is owned by PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna, a state-owned public power company. The mine produced an estimated 40.43 mt of coal in 2023 and was initially expected to operate until 2040. However, a sustained campaign by environmentalists may see it closing shop by 2036. It started operating in 1955, 69 years ago, and produces lignite coal, the lowest grade coal with the least concentration of carbon [2].
The mine is scheduled to operate until around 2040, after which the lignite is expected to be depleted. Plans are underway to eventually turn the mining pits into a leisure lake and repurpose the area as part of Poland’s energy transition efforts.
The Bełchatów mine and power complex are key to Poland’s energy security but also represent a significant climate and environmental challenge due to the scale of emissions they produce. There have been legal and policy moves in recent years to accelerate the closure and transition away from coal at the site within the next couple of decades.
Reference
[1] “Bełchatów coal mine | Copernicus.” Accessed: Aug. 27, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.copernicus.eu/en/media/image-day-gallery/belchatow-coal-mine
[2] J. O. J. 14 2024 in Economics, “The 10 Largest Coal Mines in the World,” WorldAtlas. Accessed: Aug. 27, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.worldatlas.com/industries/the-10-largest-coal-mines-in-the-world.html
