THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF POLAND 
769 
 
serves in place of hard coal in categories A+B+C1+C2 amounted to about 57,500
million tons (on January 1, 1974), of which 19,600 million tons was surveyed
in categories A+B+C1 (measured, indicated, and inferred) and 37,900 million
tons in category C2 was classified as speculative." Poland's ultimate
hard
coal resources are estimated at about 75 billion tons. Total lignite reserves
are estimated at 36 billion) of which about 15 billion tons are recognized
as economically minable.'2 Proved reserves are about 8 billion tons. 
 Natural Gas.—The gas production in Poland is too small to supply
the
national demand. 
 In 1978, an additional 2.8 billion cubic meters of gas were imported from
the Soviet Union. A total of 4.1 billion cubic meters of gas was imported
from the U.S.S.R. in 1979. Under a 20-year agreement, Poland is to receive
2.8 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year in return for the investment
made in constructing the Soyuz gas pipeline. In 1980, gas imports from the
U.SS.R. will account for half of Poland's total consumption. Poland achieved
good results in gas exploration. New gasfields were discovered recently in
the Carpathian foothills and some in the lowland. In 1978 considerable deposits
of gas, of high calorific value, were discovered in the Leszno Region. In
1979 more than half of Poland's output of natural gas came from the Zielona
GoraLeszno Region. 
 Prospecting for gas will continue in 1980 mainly in the same regions (Leszno
and Zielona Gora) and in the Carpathian foothills. According to Polish sources,
gas reserves (proved, probable, and possible) are estimated at about 160
to 200 billion cubic meters. 
 Work on the 380-kilometer Polish gas pipeline between the town of Police
and Odolanow (Kalisz Region) was continued in 1979 and is to be completed
in March 1981. 
 Petroleum—The country's refmeries processed about 17 million tons
of crude oil. More than 80% of the imported oil came from the US.S.R in 1979.

 Polish oil demand is expected to be 20 million tons in 1980 and 35 million
tons in 1985.'~ Almost half of the national production of oil derivatives
is used in transport. 
 In 1979 about 800,000 tons more crude than envisaged by the long-term agreement
was imported in return for Poland's contribution to the development of the
Soviet oil industry. Energopol enterprise in 1978 was building a 440-kilometer
pipeline from Bel 
orussia through Latvia to Lithuania and some of its pumping stations; when
this project is completed Polish workers are to start work on a new oil pipeline
between Western Siberia and Belorussia. In 1980 and in 1981, the extra deliveries
of crude oil will probably also be about 800,000 tons. 
 Oil wells in the Kamien Pomorski area (Poland's Lowlands) produced about
50% of the crude oil extraction in Poland in 197879." Production of
crude
oil was also concentrated in the Krosno Region in the Carpathian Mountains,
where several new oil wells were drilled. Oil deposits in this region have
been exploited for 125 years and are heavily depleted. Polish effort to find
new oil reserves resulted in the discovery of new oilfields; however, there
are not of major importance. There is no indication that Poland's own production
of crude oil will increase in the next few years. Poland's recoverable reserves
of crude petroleum are estimated at 6 million tons. About 40% of these reserves
occur in Poland's lowlands, 40% in the Carpathian Mountains, and about 20%
in the Carpathian foothills.'5 
 Poland's refmery capacity in 1978, was estimated at 18.5 million tons per
year. Work on the new refinery at Blachovnia in Opel Province continued in
1979. The crude oil capacity of the first section is expected to be 3 million
tons per year. The 100millionth ton of Soviet oil transmitted by the Friendship
oil pipeline was refined at Plock refinery in July 1978. Plock oil refinery
processed about 13 million tons of crude oil in 1979. The complex manufactured
about 100 final products. Its annual output is worth over Z60 billion. Plans
are to rebuild and modernize the first cracker at the Plock complex. 
 The Gdansk refmery supplied the first consignment of 238,000 liters of a
new engine oil named Marinol CC-30 to the home market in November 1978. It
is produced for use in marine diesel engines and diesel railway locomotives.

 
 ' Foreign mineral specialist, Branch of Foreign Data. 
 2Where necessary, values have been converted from Polish zlotys (Z) to U.S.
dollars at the official exchange rate of Z3.32=US$1.OO (basic rate), Z19.92=US$1.OO
(special commercial rate). 
 3Tribuna Ludu(Warsaw). June 11, 1919, p.3. 
' Tribuna Ludu (Warsaw). Jan. 31, 1979, pp. 3-4. 5Tribuna Ludu (Warsaw).
Dec. 3,1919, p.3. 
 ' Maly Rocznik Statystyczny (Concise Statistical Yearbook of Poland). Warsaw,
1979, p. 89. 
 7Contemporary Poland (Warsaw). No. 17, September 
1979, p. 28. 
 5Page 98 of work cited in footnote 6. 
 5Tribuna Ludu (Warsaw). Nov. 12,1919, pp. 3.4. 
 ' °Polish Foreign Trade (Warsaw). April 1979, pp.1.3, 15- 
 
 "Page 29 of the work cited in footnote 7. 
 ' 2Polish Foreign Trade(Warsaw). January 1978, p. 26.