RES

The mining of ilmenite has irreversible negative environmental impacts on the ecosystem of the area where mining companies operate. First of all, it leads to disturbance of the soil and vegetation layer, changes in the natural landscape, formation of depression sinkholes, which causes changes in water flow and water distribution in the mining area, lowering of groundwater levels, pollution of the atmosphere, soil and water bodies, and loss of species diversity of flora and fauna.

The aim of the paper was to calculate the actual (called “effective”) hydropower potential based on the identification of real possibilities of small hydro power plants realization. As an example river Mszanka in South Poland was chosen. The course of estimation was shown in Polish conditions of law, procedures and environmental barriers. The comparison of estimated values of effective potential was done with theoretical and technical potential.