Changed the face of Wojkowice. History of KWK

The history of KWK “Jupiter” in Wojkowice is associated with geological research conducted in 1902-1907, which was conducted in the inactive mine, engineer Henryk Czeczot. His geological research and research wells confirmed the existence of hard coal deposits near Wojkowice. These research initiated the creation of the mine, which was built from 1907 to 1910. Thanks to the exploitation of two shafts “Karol” and “Edward”, the creation of subsequent mine facilities, in November 1912 the first ton of coal from KWK “Jupiter” was mined, which fed “black gold” until 2000.

In subsequent years, the “Jupiter” mine was expanded, thanks to which hard coal mining /1913 increased – 19.5 thousand. tons, 1938 – 496 thousand tone/. In the years 1915-1917 a standard-gauge railway line was established, which connected the mines with the Grodziec and Sortownia station, and in 1918 its own power plant was launched at the mine, while in 1919 the “Jan” ventilation shaft was built, later renamed “Alfons”. Along with the expansion of industrial facilities, the construction of residential houses for workers began, of whom about 3,000 worked in the mine in the early 1930s.

During the German occupation, the name of the mine from “Jupiter” to “Jupiter” changed, and the plant was taken over by the Prussian group “Preussische Berkwerks-fund Hütten AG in Berlin). After the end of World War II, the mine returned to the former name as part of the Dąbrowa unification of the coal industry. The largest mining of KWK “Jupiter” recorded in 1979 – about 1.9 million tons of excavated hard coal.

After political and economic changes in Poland, like other mines, KWK “Jupiter” also found itself in a harder financial situation. In 1997, it was decided to establish companies based on the mine and employees employed in it, which were responsible for coal mining, the production of electricity and heat or the administration of housing resources and production and service activities for the mine. The largest of the newly appointed companies was Zakład Górniczy “Wojkowice” Sp. z o. o., which in a 4.3 kmk mining field conducted further operation of hard coal and employed about 1,200 employees.

The former KWK “Jupiter” was placed on the liquidation of on November 1, 1999, and three years after the establishment of the “Wojkowice” Mining Department, on April 30, 2000, the last ton of hard coal left. Ultimately, the plant stopped operating in 2002.

The following mine windows operated in KWK “Jowisz”:

Auxiliary and ventilation shaft “Karol”;

“Edward” downhill and discharge shaft;

“Jan” ventilation shaft renamed “Alfons”;

“Alfred” filling and ventilation shaft.

Photos:

Wojkowice Komorne. Electrical headquarters of the “Jupiter” mine, author: Altman Bronisław. Photo. Altman Stanisław, publisher: Zakład Photographic “Brothers Altman”, Place of issue: Sosnowiec, Date of release: (after 1918), Source: Photo. 11425 I, Location of the original: Silesian Library, Katowice, Public Domain (Public Domain);

Wojkowice Komorne, Jupiter mine. View of the power plant and sorting plant, author: Altman Bronisław. Photo. Altman Stanisław, publisher: Zakład Photographic “Brothers Altman”, Place of issue: Sosnowiec, Date of release: (after 1918), Source: Photo. 11422 I, Location of the original: Silesian Library, Katowice, Public Domain (Public Domain);

Wojkowice Komorne, “Jupiter” mine. General view; Wojkowice Komorne, “Jupiter” mine, author: Altman Bronisław. Photo. Altman Stanisław, publisher: Zakład Photographic “Brothers Altman”, Place of issue: Sosnowiec, Date of release: (after 1918), Source: Photo. 11802/1 I, Location of the original: Silesian Library, Katowice, Public domain (Public Domain);

Wojkowice Komorne. “Jupiter” mine, author: Altman Bronisław. Photo. Altman Stanisław, publisher: Zakład Photographic “Brothers Altman”, Place of issue: Sosnowiec, Date of release: (after 1918), Source: Photo. 11421 I, Location of the original: Silesian Library, Katowice, Public Domain (Public Domain);

Wojkowice Komorne. “Jupiter” mine, author: Altman Bronisław. Photo. Altman Stanisław, publisher: Zakład Photographic “Brothers Altman”, Place of issue: Sosnowiec, Date of release: (after 1918), Source: Photo. 11412 I, Location of the original: Silesian Library, Katowice, Public Domain (Public Domain);

Remains of KWK “Jupiter” in Wojkowice. Photos from 2024, photo: Tomasz Sanecki.