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 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070030-5

The pattern of fuel consumption in Poland differs sharply from the world pattern, in which coal and petroleum each account for about one-third of total consumption. Output of fuels and power is shown in Figure 12.

In the early 1950's, the regime tried to increase coal production rapidly with a minimum of investment, relying on forced labor, overtime work, and the use of military personnel in mining. Since 1956, coal mining has received much greater emphasis in Poland's investment program, and large expenditures have gone into both the construction of new mines and the modernization of old ones. The production of coking coal has received special attention, and its share of the hard coal output has increased from about 15% in 1950 to 25% in 1971.

The showcase of the Polish coal industry is an automated coal mine opened in Katowice in 1968. The Jan mine, named after Minister of Mining Jan Mitrega, operates with a handpicked staff of 160 miners and 69 engineers. It combines modern equipment — including computers — with up-to-date techniques, and serves as a training ground for mining specialists from all over Poland. By Polish standards, production results claimed at the mine have been impressive; 15 tons per man-day, as compared with an average of about 3 tons in other Polish mines.

b. Brown coal

Poland has large deposits of brown coal, located mainly in two areas: the Turow Basin in southwestern Poland near the Polish-East German border, and the Konin-Turek Basin in the eastern part of Poznan province. A major new brown coal deposit was recently discovered in Belchatow, about 40 kilometers south of Lodz. Development of a mine in this area is expected to begin in 1976.

Brown coal mining on a significant scale was initiated in 1956; since then output has been rising rapidly. The output of 34.5 million tons in 1971 was almost six times the 1955 output. Part of the financing of brown coal development has come from East Germany, through credits repayable in deliveries of brown and hard coal. Most Polish brown coal is used in powerplants.

c. Petroleum and natural gas

Poland imports all but a small fraction of its supply of crude oil. In 1972, domestic production amounted to only about 347,000 tons. Extensive geological surveys are still conducted with Soviet assistance, but no major fields have been found in recent years, and prospects for greatly increased domestic production are not bright. In fact, production has declined during the past four years.

Crude oil imports, all from the USSR, totaled 9.7 million tons in 1972. In order to meet long-deferred needs, Poland doubled its imports during 1961-63, 1964-65, and again during 1966-69. Imports will probably continue to increase rapidly through 1975. Because the USSR may not be relied upon to continue supplying increasing amounts of crude to meet future Polish needs, Poland is seeking to import oil from the Middle East. Agreements were reached in 1973 with Iran and Iraq to supply crude oil.

Crude oil is processed at the major refining and petroleum complex at Plock, about 75 miles northwest of Warsaw. The refinery, which began operating in August 1964, had a capacity of 2 million tons in 1966 and about 7 million to 8 million tons at the end of 1972. The present capacity of the Plock complex represents one-third of the planned size of the works. Oil from the USSR is brought to the refinery via the Council for Economic Mutual Assistance (CEMA) pipeline, which crosses Poland from the USSR to East Germany. The 24-inch pipeline, completed in December 1963, has been joined by a parallel 28-inch line which was recently completed.

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070030-5