Claims amount and settlement

The initial loss estimate was in the upper seven-figure zloty range but increased very soon to roughly 30 million zlotys. On account of the difficult loss situation, it was necessary to adjust the estimated of repair and replacement costs for the property losses – particularly those of the concurrent rescue operations – and the costs of the loss of gas. Fortunately, no-one was injured.

Clean-up costs in particular often raise the loss amount, since there are only a few specialist firms throughout the world that can do such work and this calls for special equipment. As a rule, it is also a job that can only be given to firms with a mining licence.

Calculating the cost of the gas loss was especially problematical. The first theoretical estimate of 10 million zlotys was subject to considerable uncertainty because it had an error variance of 25–50%. In order to be in a position to estimate and weigh up the loss in more detail, measurements had to be performed in addition to complex thermodynamic calculations.

With the aid of a mass balance, it was possible to obtain a realistic figure for the loss amount. It was lower than the theoretical figure – but it was also more reliable. The loss amount was consequently put at about 8 million zlotys.

There were also claims under third-party liability, e.g. for damaged buildings and roads and for crop losses in the cordoned-off area. These claims also came to several million zlotys. The loss was finally adjusted at approx. 24 million zlotys (approx €5.5m)

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