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Polish energy sector warns of winter coal shortages as imports surge 168%
Polish energy transition at risk as industry warns of coal dependence and slow decarbonization
Poland’s energy transition from coal to renewables faces mounting pressure as industrial leaders and officials warn of systemic risks and slow progress in decarbonization.
At the Future Mining Forum & Expo in Katowice on Friday, Artur Pollak, CEO of APA Group, stated that 95% of Polish businesses still operate under outdated models, failing to leverage digitalization and AI. “Polish industry is on its knees today,” Pollak said, criticizing the lack of a clear strategy for Silesia’s economic shift from mining to new industries .
The cement industry added urgency, warning that without carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology and revisions to the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), domestic production could collapse after 2039. Industry representatives called for extended access to free CO2 allowances and state support for decarbonization investments .
Energy sector leaders underscored the fragility of the transition. Tomasz Słupik, CEO of Energopomiar, noted that while Poland has expanded renewable capacity, coal-fired plants remain the backbone of the grid, ensuring stability for weather-dependent renewables. “The risk factor is guaranteeing continuous electricity supply, which still depends on coal blocks,” Słupik said .
Wojciech Balczun, Minister of State Assets, confirmed that coal will retain a stabilizing role but demanded faster restructuring of mining companies to align with shifting energy demand. He announced that 7,000 jobs will be cut from the sector, though over 60,000 workers will remain employed . Meanwhile, Andrzej Gajewski, former president of Orlen Termika, warned that a cold winter could deplete coal reserves, stating, “We will all be scraping the bottom” .
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