Poland continues to rely on coal for energy, particularly for heating homes.
Silesia, the coal region of Poland, is currently experiencing a ‘green evolution’. The region, as well as the whole country, relies heavily on the coal industry for now, making it a significant challenge to shut down mines and move away from coal. However, the ‘green evolution’ encompasses not only the energy sector but also the industrial sector.
Piotr Kuczera, the mayor of Rybnik, a city in Silesia, has been working on making environmentally friendly changes for a while now. He says that local leaders can’t do it all alone and need some help. They’ve come up with a plan that has three parts: education, the subsidy process and the enforcement of penalties for non-compliance, especially for anti-smog resolutions.
Kuczera anticipates the involvement of “funding from European and governmental sources in this process of economic transformation”.
In the previous year, Poland extracted roughly 54.4 million tonnes of hard coal and sold approximately 53 million tonnes. The heating sector accounts for roughly 26 million tonnes of coal consumption, with half of this amount designated for households. Additionally, Poland burns 87% of the coal utilized by households in the European Union.
The cost of change
Henrietta Ferenc, a 72-year-old retiree living alone and in poor health, desires to reside in a healthier environment. Currently reliant on coal to heat her home, she has opted to take out a loan to upgrade her heating system in compliance with new environmentally friendly regulations. With a monthly budget of €533 to cover all expenses, Henrietta is worried about the rising cost of fuel, which now stands at €222 per tonne. She stresses the importance of this expense, as it significantly impacts her ability to afford basic necessities each month. Given her expenses for medication, the necessary fuel for heating her house, and the loan repayment, she expresses that her pension falls short of covering her needs.
Many Polish residents like Henrietta cannot afford the “green changes”. Miners, who wish to keep the industry alive, stress that leaving coal too fast could cause an energy crisis.
Rafał Jedwabny, representing the Solidarność Miners Union, expresses concern over the potential implications of a coal-free Poland, stating that “this upcoming winter might underscore the limited alternatives available.” He attributes this apprehension to Poland’s lack of readiness for such profound shifts in the energy landscape. Moreover, he highlights the current high gas prices, suggesting that many Poles may struggle to afford energy as a consequence.
Uncertain Readiness
Although ‘green’ initiatives have been put into place, both the Silesian region and the nation as a whole remain inadequately equipped for the closure of mines. Nonetheless, Ireneusz Zyska, the Vice Minister of the Climate Ministry, assures that Poland’s green transition will be successful, though he anticipates challenges in maintaining stability in the absence of coal.
He suggests that the nation might need to incorporate some coal-based energy, employing advanced technologies to mitigate environmental pollution until Poland transitions its energy system to nuclear, utilizing gas as an interim solution.
Moving towards sustainability
In the past year, Polish mines witnessed a notable decline in production, with approximately 7.2 million tonnes less of hard coal extracted compared to the previous year, and a corresponding decrease in sales by around 5.4 million tonnes. This represents a reduction of nearly 12% in production and over 9% in sales. Despite these downturns, the coal industry maintains a steady foothold in Poland, serving as a significant source of employment, particularly in regions like Silesia where viable alternatives are scarce.