Main challenges of mineral resources policy of Poland

• Demand for minerals in Poland is met almost entirely from domestic sources only for 14 minerals.
• Sufficiency of developed reserves is the lowest for Zn–Pb ores (3 years), ball clays (4 years) and sand and gravel (12 years).
• Extraction of numerous mineral deposits in Poland is restrained by environmental restrictions and NIMBY syndrome.
• Legal protection of the areas of the most important mineral deposits is necessary.

Meeting the demand for mineral commodities is crucial for sustainable development and social welfare. Prospecting and exploration in Poland in the second half of 20th century allowed to discover and demonstrate important resources of various minerals. National economic security regarding the domestic mineral commodities supply is estimated by the mineral static sufficiency coefficient expressed in years. Mineral resources of active mines are estimated to satisfy the demand in the coming years. The estimations vary depending on the resource – lignite resources from currently operating mines will be depleted in 14 years, sand and gravel natural aggregates in 12 years, industrial dolomite in 15 years, ball clays in only 4 years. Zn–Pb ores in active mines are expected to be completely exhausted during the next 3 years. Considerable resources have been identified but are not currently extracted. The minerals may suffice for longer if the yet untapped resources will be exploited. The Polish demand for mineral commodities is only partly satisfied by the domestic supply. Numerous minerals which are not extracted in Poland need to be imported. Extraction of many mineral deposits in Poland is restrained by the actual or planned land use, land property ownership, environment protection exigencies, social opposition and the NIMBY syndrome. Legal regulations can help to solve the conflicts which limit the accessibility of mineral deposits for exploration and exploitation. Legal protection of the areas of known and expected mineral deposits occurrence is necessary.