The president of Cognor, a Polish steel company, warns that energy prices in Poland are the highest in Europe. He says this situation threatens to halt production in energy-intensive industries and could push companies to relocate abroad. The question he poses is blunt: How can Polish industry compete with Germany when German steel mills pay much less for electricity?
– We have the highest energy prices in Europe – said Przemysław Sztuczkowski, president of Cognor, in an interview with WNP.PL. – This will cause industry to flee Poland. The current situation also risks stopping production in energy-intensive sectors – he added.
According to Sztuczkowski, Poland is one of only two countries in Europe – along with Albania – that has not introduced systemic relief for energy prices. – Unfortunately, the Polish government is not reacting to the relief measures other countries have put in place. If German steel mills have electricity that is 200 PLN per MWh cheaper, how are we supposed to compete with them?! – he asked.
No relief in sight for energy-intensive industry
The problem is not limited to the steel sector. The chemical, cement and fertilizer industries are also complaining about exorbitant energy costs. Sztuczkowski noted that he and other industry representatives held extensive talks with the former Minister of Industry, Marzena Czarnecka. – Unfortunately, a year and a half was wasted. Now we only get empty promises and nothing happens. Meanwhile, other countries are not sitting idle – he explained.
He stressed that the lack of action by the Polish government is eroding the competitiveness of the entire economy. – All these industries are complaining about excessively high energy prices. It is a tragedy – he said.
The coal conundrum
When asked about coking coal, essential for steel production, Sztuczkowski pointed to broader energy policy issues. – I’m looking not only at coking coal, but also at thermal coal and our coal-fired power plants. Coal is the only resource we have. We are blinded and keep agreeing with the absurd directives not to mine our own coal – he argued.
He cited global trends: China mines over 4.8 billion tons of coal per year, India aims for 1.5 billion tons annually, and US President Donald Trump is promoting coal for data centers and artificial intelligence. – But the EU continues to go against global trends. This climate policy is ruining the European economy – he said. – We have coal resources in Poland. We should mine it and finally break away from the Green Deal. We also need to modernize our coal-fired units. Wind and solar energy are unstable. Industry needs reliable, stable power. Without ETS fees, coal-based energy would be the cheapest – he concluded.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Cognor Holding
