Poland’s energy prices are the highest in Europe, threatening to drive industrial production abroad and even halt output in energy-intensive sectors, warns Przemysław Sztuczkowski, CEO of steelmaker Cognor. In an interview with WNP, he said the government’s failure to introduce relief schemes leaves Polish firms unable to compete with German rivals, who benefit from prices 200 PLN per MWh lower.
Sztuczkowski stressed that the problem is not limited to his company but affects the entire Polish economy. He pointed out that other European countries have introduced systemic energy price relief, while Poland – alongside Albania – has not. This puts domestic manufacturers at a severe disadvantage.
Energy costs push Polish industry to the brink
– We have the highest energy prices in Europe – he said. – Because of this, industry will flee Poland abroad. The current situation also risks stopping production in energy-intensive sectors.
The Cognor chief noted that complaints come not only from steelmakers but also from chemical, cement and fertilizer industries. All report that high electricity costs are eroding their competitiveness.
– German steel mills have electricity 200 PLN cheaper per megawatt-hour – he stressed. – How are we supposed to compete with them? Germany introduced relief, we did nothing.
Government inaction and the coal paradox
Sztuczkowski recalled extensive talks with the former minister of industry Marzena Czarnecka. – A year and a half went to waste. Now we only get promises and nothing happens. Meanwhile, other countries are not idle – he said.
He also criticized EU climate policy, arguing that it ruins European economies. He called for Poland to exploit its own coal resources, modernize coal-fired units, and abandon the Green Deal. – Coal is the only resource we have. We are blinded and agree to absurd guidelines not to mine it – he argued.
He pointed to global trends: China mines over 4.8 billion tons of coal annually, India aims for 1.5 billion tons, and the US under Donald Trump is embracing coal for data centers and AI. – The EU goes against the world trend. Wind and solar are unstable. Industry needs reliable power. Without ETS fees, coal energy would be the cheapest – he said.
When asked about scrap prices, Sztuczkowski noted stabilization at around 1,250 PLN per tonne, with low exports due to reduced Turkish demand.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Cognor Holding / materiały prasowe
