Socio-Economic and Environmental Effects of the Restructuring of the Bobrek–Piekary Hard Coal Mine in Piekary Śląskie

Authors

  • Wioletta Kilar Uniwersytet Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie
  • Patrycja Nowosielska Uniwersytet Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1544-9757

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24917/20801653.402.3

Keywords:

hard coal mine, Bobrek–Piekary Mine, economic transformation, mining industry, restructuring, transition

Abstract

The restructuring of enterprises brings a range of consequences. The restructuring of a hard coal mine, a complex undertaking, also involves numerous challenges and impacts. The aim of this article is to provide a detailed identification of the effects of the restructuring of the Bobrek–Piekary Hard Coal Mine in Piekary Śląskie, with particular emphasis on socio‑economic and environmental aspects. This process is part of the broader economic transformations occurring in the Upper Silesia region and is linked to the nationwide energy transition. The article presents not only the course of the restructuring itself but also its effects on the local community, labour market, demographic situation and the state of the natural environment. The research is based on statistical data analysis (including data from Statistics Poland – GUS), survey results conducted among residents, and in‑depth interviews with representatives of local authorities. The findings indicate that despite initial difficulties and negative economic impacts, the city is undertaking concrete actions aimed at minimizing the effects of restructuring and is creating new directions for economic development.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Wioletta Kilar, Uniwersytet Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie

Wioletta Kilar, PhD, socio‑ economic geographer, assistant professor at the Department of Logistics, Service Geography and the Labour Market in the Institute of Law, Economics and Administration at the University of the National Education Commission, Krakow. Her research interests focus primarily on the processes of transformation in the spatial structures of industry in various systems and their consequences; the location factors of different types of economic activity; the formation and functioning of enterprises (especially multinational corporations and their branches); the development of international corporations and their subsidiaries, as well as their role in global value chains; entrepreneurship ecosystems; innovation; changes in socio‑ economic development in Poland and other European Union countries; EU cohesion policy; and issues related to entrepreneurship education (including soft skills) and geography at all levels of education (from preschool to higher education).

Patrycja Nowosielska, Uniwersytet Komisji Edukacji Narodowej w Krakowie

Patrycja Nowosielska, a master’s student in geography at the Commission of National Education University in Kraków. Her research interests focus on industrial geography, enterprise restructuring and the transformation of the Silesia region.

References

Chimczak‑ Bratkowski, P. (2025). Przemiany w sektorze węglowym – co czeka Polskę? Pozyskano z: https://akademiaesg.pl/baza‑ wiedzy/przemiany ‑w‑ sektorze ‑weglowym‑ co ‑czeka‑polske/ (dostęp: 30.08.2025).

Coal Transitions. (2018). Coal transitions: Research and dialogue on the future of coal. Pozyskano z: https://www.iddri.org/en/project/coal ‑transitions (dostęp: 30.08.2025).

Duda, A. (2014). 60 lat kopalni „Piekary”. Kompania Węglowa, 10(65), 26–29.

Gao, S., Zhou, P., Zhang, H., Yang, S. (2025). Evaluating socio‑ economic and subjective well‑being impacts of coal power phaseout in China. Nature Communications. Pozyskano z: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467‑025‑57561‑8.pdf (dostęp: 30.08.2025).

Kaizuka, S. (2024). Politics of a just transition: Lessons from the UK coal mines. Contemporary Social Science, 19(1–3), 154–177. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/21582041.2024.2337672

Kilar, W., Rachwał, T. (2014). Changing Role of Industry in the Economy in the V4 Countries – a Regional Approach, Club of Economics in Miskolc. Theory Methodology Practice, 10, 1, July, 45–54.

Measham, T., Walker, J., Haslam McKenzie, F. et al. (2024). Beyond closure: A literature review and research agenda for post ‑mining transitions. Resources Policy, 90, 104859. doi: https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.104859

Makieła, Z. (2006). Funkcjonowanie przedsiębiorstwa poszukiwań i eksploatacji złóż ropy naftowej i gazu Petrobaltic w okresie transformacji gospodarczej na tle rozwoju przemysłu naftowego. Prace Komisji Geografii Przemysłu Polskiego Towarzystwa Geograficznego, 8, 204–211. doi: https://doi.org/10.24917/20801653.8.19

Marszowski, R. (2017). Działania restrukturyzacyjne wobec górnictwa węgla kamiennego i ich wpływ na otoczenie społeczno‑ gospodarcze. Stan i perspektywy. Humanum Międzynarodowe Studia Społeczno ‑Humanistyczne, 26(3), 113–124.

NewClimate Institute. (2022). Coal phase ‑out and just transitions: Lessons learned from Europe. Pozyskano z: https://newclimate.org (dostęp: 8.10.2025).

Nowosielska, P. (2025). Restrukturyzacja Kopalni Węgla Kamiennego Bobrek–Piekary w Piekarach Śląskich – wymiar społeczno‑ ekonomiczny i środowiskowy. Praca licencjacka. Potempa, A.E. (2004). 50 lat KWK „Julian”. Kopalnia Węglowa S.A. Piekary: Zakład Górniczy.

Skibski, M., Osadnik, K., Białas, M. (2020). Górnictwo węgla kamiennego w Polsce w latach 1990– 2020. Mining – Informatics, Automation and Electrical Engineering, 4(544), 27–28.

Stalewski, T., Szpak, A. (2000). Sposób radzenia sobie ze zwolnieniami w KWK „Nowa Ruda”. Kraków: Prace Instytutu Geografii i Gospodarki Przestrzennej.

Tkocz, M. (2001). Restrukturyzacja przemysłu regionu tradycyjnego. Katowice: Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Śląskiego w Katowicach.

United Nations. (2002). Economic and social impacts of restructuring of the coal industries of the transition economies. Pozyskano z: https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/474190 (dostęp: 9.10.2025).

Włoczek, C. (2023). Historia Brzezin Śląskich. Piekary Śląskie: Orzeł Biały S.A.

World Bank. (2018). Managing coal mine closure: Achieving a just transition for all. Pozyskano z: https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/484541544643269894/pdf/130659‑REVISED‑

PUBLIC ‑Managing ‑Coal ‑Mine ‑Closure ‑Achieving ‑a ‑Just ‑Transition ‑for ‑All ‑November2018‑final. pdf (dostęp: 7.09.2025).

Yanguas Parra, P., Furnaro, A., Malz, N., Wijayani, L., Oei, P.Y. (2025). Supply ‑side policies in coal transitions and country vulnerabilities: a systematic literature review. Environmental Politics, 1–37. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2025.2538324

Downloads

Published

2026-06-30

How to Cite

Kilar, W., & Nowosielska, P. (2026). Socio-Economic and Environmental Effects of the Restructuring of the Bobrek–Piekary Hard Coal Mine in Piekary Śląskie. Studies of the Industrial Geography Commission of the Polish Geographical Society, 40(2), 23–41. https://doi.org/10.24917/20801653.402.3

Issue

Vol. 40 No. 2 (2026): Selected transformation processes in the european economy

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Studies of the Industrial Geography Commission of the Polish Geographical Society

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Articles are published under the terms of the Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 4.0; Attribution– NoDerivs).

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 > >>