Matthew Busch

Photographer / Videographer / Writer

Down the Black Hole of Coal Mining in Poland

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Location: Austin, Texas

Nationality: American

Biography: Matthew is an American photographer whose work often looks inward, exploring themes of belonging, relationships, and memory through his photographs and writings. His work often examines subcultures in America and elsewhere, looking closely at how... MORE

A group of men mine coal in Wał... and dangerous work conditions.

A group of men mine coal in Wałbrzych, Poland on November 5, 2013. The work is physical, and the men use 17th-century tools and methods. The only tools these men use are a pickax, shovel and a few small buckets. Each bag of coal sells for about 20 zlt, or about $6, and will be used to heat homes by people that prefer the cheaper coal. Coal mining in Wałbrzych dates back to the 14th century. During the height of Poland’s hard coal industry in 1979, a record 201 million tons were mined in the Lower Silesia Basin region that runs along Poland’s border with the Czech Republic. But after Poland transitioned from a planned economy to a market economy in the early 1990s, the nation’s coal industry experienced a swift upheaval. By the early 2000s, a practice that had defined the region for decades in Wałbrzych was effectively shut down. And though coal production was still viable in the landscape surrounding the city, an industry in the region came to a halt, citing inefficiencies and dangerous work conditions.

A group of men mine coal in Wałbrzych, Poland on November 8, 2013. The work is physical, and the men use 17th-century tools and methods. The only tools these men use are a pickax, shovel and a few small buckets. Each bag of coal sells for about 20 zlt, or about $6, and will be used to heat homes by people that prefer the cheaper coal. Coal mining in Wałbrzych dates back to the 14th century. During the height of Poland’s hard coal industry in 1979, a record 201 million tons were mined in the Lower Silesia Basin region that runs along Poland’s border with the Czech Republic. But after Poland transitioned from a planned economy to a market economy in the early 1990s, the nation’s coal industry experienced a swift upheaval. By the early 2000s, a practice that had defined the region for decades in Wałbrzych was effectively shut down. And though coal production was still viable in the landscape surrounding the city, an industry in the region came to a halt, citing inefficiencies and dangerous work conditions.

A group of men mine coal in Wałbrzych, Poland. on November 8, 2013. The work is physical, and the men use 17th-century tools and methods. The only tools these men use are a pickax, shovel and a few small buckets. Each bag of coal sells for about 20 zlt, or about $6, and will be used to heat homes by people that prefer the cheaper coal. Coal mining in Wałbrzych dates back to the 14th century. During the height of Poland’s hard coal industry in 1979, a record 201 million tons were mined in the Lower Silesia Basin region that runs along Poland’s border with the Czech Republic. But after Poland transitioned from a planned economy to a market economy in the early 1990s, the nation’s coal industry experienced a swift upheaval. By the early 2000s, a practice that had defined the region for decades in Wałbrzych was effectively shut down. And though coal production was still viable in the landscape surrounding the city, an industry in the region came to a halt, citing inefficiencies and dangerous work conditions.

A miner stacks bags of coal for...e often at work to fill orders.

A miner stacks bags of coal for an order the following day. The mine site is close to a neighborhood and even though a police station is nearby they are often at work to fill orders.

Miners use rudimentary tools li... and dangerous work conditions.

Miners use rudimentary tools like these to mine coal illegally in a local neighborhood on November 8, 2013. The work is physical, and the men use 17th-century tools and methods. The only tools these men use are a pickax, shovel and a few small buckets. Each bag of coal sells for about 20 zlt, or about $6, and will be used to heat homes by people that prefer the cheaper coal. Coal mining in Wałbrzych dates back to the 14th century. During the height of Poland’s hard coal industry in 1979, a record 201 million tons were mined in the Lower Silesia Basin region that runs along Poland’s border with the Czech Republic. But after Poland transitioned from a planned economy to a market economy in the early 1990s, the nation’s coal industry experienced a swift upheaval. By the early 2000s, a practice that had defined the region for decades in Wałbrzych was effectively shut down. And though coal production was still viable in the landscape surrounding the city, an industry in the region came to a halt, citing inefficiencies and dangerous work conditions.

Under the cover of night, a min... and dangerous work conditions.

Under the cover of night, a miner takes a break from his hard work of breaking apart the seams of coal beneath him. He and his partners work throughout the night to avoid police detection and to fill a large order for pickup the next day. Coal mining in Wałbrzych dates back to the 14th century. During the height of Poland’s hard coal industry in 1979, a record 201 million tons were mined in the Lower Silesia Basin region that runs along Poland’s border with the Czech Republic. But after Poland transitioned from a planned economy to a market economy in the early 1990s, the nation’s coal industry experienced a swift upheaval. By the early 2000s, a practice that had defined the region for decades in Wałbrzych was effectively shut down. And though coal production was still viable in the landscape surrounding the city, an industry in the region came to a halt, citing inefficiencies and dangerous work conditions.

After finishing their mining fo... and dangerous work conditions.

After finishing their mining for the day, a group of men go for drinks in Wałbrzych, Poland on November 11, 2013. The work is physical, and the men use 17th-century tools and methods. The only tools these men use are a pickax, shovel and a few small buckets. Each bag of coal sells for about 20 zlt, or about $6, and will be used to heat homes by people that prefer the cheaper coal. Coal mining in Wałbrzych dates back to the 14th century. During the height of Poland’s hard coal industry in 1979, a record 201 million tons were mined in the Lower Silesia Basin region that runs along Poland’s border with the Czech Republic. But after Poland transitioned from a planned economy to a market economy in the early 1990s, the nation’s coal industry experienced a swift upheaval. By the early 2000s, a practice that had defined the region for decades in Wałbrzych was effectively shut down. And though coal production was still viable in the landscape surrounding the city, an industry in the region came to a halt, citing inefficiencies and dangerous work conditions.

A coal merchant rearranges the ...the cheaper prices they charge.

A coal merchant rearranges the coal in the back of his truck in an open street market near the center of Wałbrzych, Poland on November 15, 2013. The street vendors are selling coal illegally, but still show up every day to sell to residents and businesses nearby who prefer to pay the cheaper prices they charge.

A man shovels coal into buckets...r residents or in short supply.

A man shovels coal into buckets to take up to his flat in Wałbrzych, Poland, to heat his home on November 9, 2013. Many houses are still heated with coal, but the coal provided by the city is often too expensive for residents or in short supply.

Smoke from coal and wood heatin...h cheaper than central heating.

Smoke from coal and wood heating rises above a residential area in Podgórze, a district of Wałbrzych, Poland on November 16, 2013. Using wood and coal is much cheaper than central heating.

A man and his wife take a break... and dangerous work conditions.

A man and his wife take a break from mining coal in their neighborhood of Wałbrzych, Poland, with a few beers on November 8, 2013. Mining coal like this is illegal, but some of the older miners can’t find work elsewhere and so they put their old skills to use. The woman usually scans the area for police driving by. Coal mining in Wałbrzych dates back to the 14th century. During the height of Poland’s hard coal industry in 1979, a record 201 million tons were mined in the Lower Silesia Basin region that runs along Poland’s border with the Czech Republic. But after Poland transitioned from a planned economy to a market economy in the early 1990s, the nation’s coal industry experienced a swift upheaval. By the early 2000s, a practice that had defined the region for decades in Wałbrzych was effectively shut down. And though coal production was still viable in the landscape surrounding the city, an industry in the region came to a halt, citing inefficiencies and dangerous work conditions.

Two couples celebrate a friend&...his girlfriend, Patricia, left.

Two couples celebrate a friend’s 18th birthday party at a discotheque in Wałbrzych, Poland. Marcin Jankowski, 23, second from left, is known as a boxer in the region, but after being imprisoned for assault, and later for illegal coal mining, he had to find another job in the area. Now he works as a package deliverer and has hopes of leaving Poland to work in Germany with his girlfriend, Patricia, left.

Two men smoke marijuana in thei... building in Wałbrzych, Poland.

Two men smoke marijuana in their apartment building in Wałbrzych, Poland.

A group of friends gather toget...o mining coal locally for jobs.

A group of friends gather together outside their apartment complex in a region of Wałbrzych, Poland. Work is hard to come by and some young men turn to mining coal locally for jobs.

Jacek Kropidlowski, a retired m...t, it was preempted.”

Jacek Kropidlowski, a retired mining surveying assistant, poses for a portrait in his living room while wearing his formal mining uniform, adorned with medals for his services and achievements. Kropidlowski worked 33 years in mining before being forced to retire from his position at the Wałbrzych mine once it was slated to close. “It was really hard for me. It was just impossible to understand. It was incomprehensible. Now when you look at it, it was preempted.”

A dining room scene from the house of retired miner Jerzy Kosmaty.

A young couple visit the top of...o mining coal locally for jobs.

A young couple visit the top of a nearby hill along with a group of their friends in a region of Wałbrzych, Poland. Work is hard to come by and some young men turn to mining coal locally for jobs.

Olivia, 8, plays on the tracks ...as a city in the Upper Silesia.

Olivia, 8, plays on the tracks of a railway viaduct in the district Podgórze in Wałbrzych. The railway used to carry coal out of the region from the many mines in the area. Now the city imports all its coal to its singular coking plant from as far away as the U.S. and Australia and as close as a city in the Upper Silesia.

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Thumbnail of A group of men mine coal in Wałb_s and dangerous work conditions.

Thumbnail of A miner stacks bags of coal for _re often at work to fill orders.

Thumbnail of Miners use rudimentary tools lik_s and dangerous work conditions.

Thumbnail of Under the cover of night, a mine_s and dangerous work conditions.

Thumbnail of After finishing their mining for_s and dangerous work conditions.

Thumbnail of A coal merchant rearranges the c_ the cheaper prices they charge.

Thumbnail of A man shovels coal into buckets _or residents or in short supply.

Thumbnail of Smoke from coal and wood heating_ch cheaper than central heating.

Thumbnail of A man and his wife take a break _s and dangerous work conditions.

Thumbnail of Two couples celebrate a friend&a_ his girlfriend, Patricia, left.

Thumbnail of Two men smoke marijuana in their_t building in Wałbrzych, Poland.

Thumbnail of A group of friends gather togeth_to mining coal locally for jobs.

Thumbnail of Jacek Kropidlowski, a retired mi_it, it was preempted.”

Thumbnail of A dining room scene from the house of retired miner Jerzy Kosmaty.

Thumbnail of A young couple visit the top of _to mining coal locally for jobs.

Thumbnail of Olivia, 8, plays on the tracks o_ as a city in the Upper Silesia.

Public Story

Down the Black Hole of Coal Mining in Poland

Date of Work Oct 2013 - Dec 2013

Updated Feb 2022

Location Walbrzych, Poland

Topics Art, Capitalism, Climate Change, Community, Conservation, Crime, Culture, Documentary, Editorial, Emotion, Energy, Environment, Fine Art, Globalization, History, Industrial, International Stories, Investigation, Journalism, Photography, Photojournalism, Portraiture, Reporting, Science, Travel

Men gather on top of a neighborhood hill overlooking the city of Walbrzych, Poland. Two blocks from the main Police Station, they talk a while, letting themselves warm up before illegally mining the black gold beneath them. The youngest is sent off to buy beers as the wife of another looks out for police. The rest begin their work. With indifference they pull on gloves, blackened by the countless hours of rooting through the earth. They shoulder their tools and jump into a pit, with rudimentary tunnels stretching out like spider webs under their feet. The fall air is crisp around them. The coal they mine will be used to heat homes and to stave off the coming cold.

Coal mining is both illegal — and a means of survival — for some private citizens in the city of Wałbrzych, Poland.

It didn’t used to be this way. Coal mining in Wałbrzych dates back to the 14th century. During the height of Poland’s hard coal industry in 1979, a record 201 million tons were mined in the Lower Silesia Basin region that runs along Poland’s border with the Czech Republic. But after Poland transitioned from a planned economy to a market economy in the early 1990s, the nation’s coal industry experienced a swift upheaval.

By the early 2000s, a practice that had defined the region for decades in Wałbrzych was effectively shut down. And though coal production was still viable in the landscape surrounding the city, an industry in the region came to a halt, citing inefficiencies and dangerous work conditions.

“In Poland, there is no work,” a miner says, “So we do this.” Constantly on the lookout for police, his group and others mine, bag, and sell coal for their living.

Amongst them is a man in his late sixties, who has been mining for five years without incident from the police, though he risks a fine and possible jail time every time he goes out.

For him and for his younger counterparts, it is a tentative existence.