Both the Polish government and the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party have confirmed that they do not intend to accelerate the phase-out of hard coal production in Poland, according to Jacek Sasin, the Polish state assets minister. Sasin emphasized that there is a social agreement in place, outlining the gradual reduction of coal mining by 2049. He also stated that there are no plans to expedite the country’s transition away from coal.
Sasin’s remarks came after a meeting with a group of signatories of the social contract related to the future of hard coal in Poland. He clarified that the government is committed to fully implementing the social agreement and aims to address any doubts or questions that have arisen.
Poland remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels, particularly coal, and is opposed to accelerating the EU’s green agenda. The country argues that it needs more time to transition to green energy sources due to the legacies of the pre-1989 communist regime, which promoted coal mining and coal-fired power plants.
In April, the European Parliament approved key legislation as part of the Fit for 55 in 2030 package, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
The Polish coal mining industry employs approximately 75,000 people, and powerful mining unions exert significant influence on energy policy in the country.
Additionally, Poland’s development minister, Waldemar Buda, expressed hope that the current lower house of parliament would address a bill to establish a new state-owned company that would take ownership of coal-fired assets from energy firms after the upcoming general election. This new state agency, the National Energy Security Agency (NABE), is intended to free energy companies from their polluting assets, making them more attractive to investors. The country is set to hold elections on October 15, and Buda hoped that the lower house could overrule an upper house veto on state guarantees for NABE before the new post-election parliament convenes.
On September 7, the Senate, the upper house, voted against a bill related to state guarantees for NABE.
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