“There will be more coal from abroad and domestic mines, as well as new protective allowances. They will appear in September. They already cost around PLN 35 billion”, said Anna Moskwa, Minister of Climate and Environment.

According to the estimates of the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Poland will import about 13 million tonnes of coal this year, of which 6 million tonnes have already arrived and another more than 6 million tonnes are contracted. There will be a shortage of 4 million tonnes, however, as this was the number of stocks last year.

Moskwa said that the power industry was already importing coal from distant countries. Now it is increasing these orders and, after the screening process, 20-40 % are sent to the market for individual consumers.

The contracting process of the state-owned companies (PGE Paliwa and Węglokoks) concerns coal for the power industry, heating and individual consumers. It is coal that will replace Russian raw material, which was dedicated to households and local heating plants and was imported exclusively by the private sector. “PGE Paliwa and Węglokoks are working intensively on contracting further coal supplies to Poland”, says Minister Moskwa. According to Polish government estimates, imports this year could be up to 17 million tonnes, assuming a heavier winter.

The Minister for Climate and Environmental Protection recalled that the government had prepared systemic solutions to support end users and protect them from drastic price increases of energy carriers.

The total cost to the state budget of support for system and individual heating will amount to PLN 9 billion. Approximately PLN 7 billion will be received by customers of district heating plants and PLN 2 billion by households. “The carbon allowance is an additional PLN 11 billion,” said Anna Moskwa, adding that this year the government has already allocated PLN 10 billion to reduce the price of natural gas for households and PLN 4.5 billion for shield allowances.

Adrian Andrzejewski