The head of Poland’s mining chamber warns that decommissioning coal-fired power plants before new stable sources are built, such as nuclear reactors, could lead to a severe energy crisis. Janusz Olszowski, president of the Górnicza Izba Przemysłowo-Handlowa (Mining Industry and Trade Chamber), argues that the order of actions must be reversed.
– First we need to build alternative, stable energy sources, for example nuclear power plants, and only then decommission existing coal capacity, even though some of it is already outdated. Not the other way around – Olszowski stresses. – That is the only way to avoid falling into serious trouble – he adds, calling for respect for domestic resources.
Olszowski points to the February 2025 blackout that hit the Iberian Peninsula, when renewable energy sources failed. He says the incident was swept under the carpet, yet the economic losses ran into billions of euros and public safety was threatened across several countries. According to him, a reliable power system cannot exist without a stabilising carrier such as coal or gas. – We don’t have enough gas, we are forced to import it. That is why we should base our system on coal – Olszowski argues.
Gas as a transition fuel is a mistake
The chamber’s president criticises the EU’s push for gas alone as a transition fuel en route to a zero-emission economy. – We do not have sufficient resources of this raw material within the European Union, and supplies are not only expensive but also burdened with high risk – he explains. He points to geopolitical tensions, like the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, which caused major turbulence on fuel markets. – Recent years have shown how geopolitical shocks affect energy and commodity prices. We must respect the energy carriers we possess – he says.
Olszowski comments on Poland’s recently adopted National Energy and Climate Plan. He finds the reference scenario (WEM) relatively sensible, as it assumes a slower decline in hard coal supply – from about 26 million tonnes in 2030 to around 10 million tonnes in 2040. However, he warns that Poland may be forced to import coal because domestic mining capacity will become too limited.
Poland’s mining technology can conquer the world
Despite the EU’s anti-coal rhetoric, Olszowski is calm about coal’s future in the medium term. – We will not manage to build enough energy storage or nuclear plants in a short time. And once nuclear units are built, huge investments in the grid will be needed to transmit power from the north to the south of the country. So, whether one likes coal or not, we will need it for a long time – he explains.
He highlights Poland’s unique position as the only EU country with a large potential of companies and institutions serving the mining sector. – Our underground mines are an excellent testing ground for various solutions. Companies from the mining environment and research units must enter foreign markets where coal extraction is planned. At the Future Mining Forum & Expo in Katowice (9-11 September) we will have a chance to remind the world of our capabilities – Olszowski says.
Poland’s mining equipment makers already offer products not only for coal but also for copper, aggregates and critical raw materials. The chamber’s president notes growing competition, especially from China, but insists that Polish know-how and experience in digitisation, robotisation and AI-driven mining (Industry 4.0 or 5.0) are a key advantage. – Countries like India, China, Indonesia, Australia and the USA are betting on coal. Polish firms can deliver solutions for any type of mining – he adds.
Olszowski appeals for strategic thinking: we must construct nuclear power plants first – and only then, gradually, phase out coal. – If political decisions accelerate the coal exit without proper alternatives, we will be forced to import more coal at higher prices. And in a crisis, even ships carrying coal or LNG can be blocked. That is why we must respect our own resources – he concludes.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. PTWP
