To those at the top you would like to say: get a grip, there is nothing to be happy about here – said the head of PO Donald Tusk in Racibórz on Tuesday, referring to the economic data of the Central Bureau of Statistics. He notes that there is a decline in food sales. “People in Poland are starting to save on food,” he stressed.
Speaking at a briefing at the Racibórz plant of the solar energy industry company Ensol, the former prime minister referred to data released Tuesday on the fall in February y/y retail sales. by 5 percent He recalled that a few days ago data on a fall in industrial production in February by 1.2 percent was released.
It seems — not much, but this is the highest post-pandemic drop and it’s very bad. Today, the even worse news is that retail sales are down 5%. despite forecasts of 1.4 percent. Food sales fell the most
noted Tusk.
People in Poland are starting to save on food – and they are not rich people, not rich. So really, this is the day when we need to shout louder and louder that the policies that allow such high prices and the policies that show that we are approaching a dangerous moment in terms of our economy really need to change
– said the head of the PO.
These aren’t jokes anymore. And this is not even about elections, because day after day and week after week there could be a much bigger problem. We had a short meeting with entrepreneurs here: the head of the Tokai company, which produces graphite, told me about the data that razed me to the ground. This is a very energy intensive production and they paid PLN 150 million for gas and electricity a year ago, and now more than PLN 450 million
reported Tusk.
This scale indicates how serious the situation is. And it’s not just about statistics, that wherever we look, whether it’s a modern company, very ambitious, whether it’s a small business, whether it’s a grocery store, there are signs everywhere of something very disturbing. And this is probably a really good place to shout loudly – like in Rafako we raised a cry together and it helped – that if we continue like this it’s a straight road to disaster
he decided.
“Nothing to do here”
To those at the top you would say get over yourself really, there is nothing to be happy about here. There is no more delay here. Everywhere I go, they ask me where the money for the energy transition is. These billions of euros could also work surrounded by companies like this. And it’s worth going here – outside of mainstream politics – to shout that people need to get their act together and start doing something meaningful for these places, for these factories, for these companies
Tusk emphasizes.
The Ensol plant in Racibórz is located in the immediate vicinity of the Racibórz power boiler manufacturer Rafako. At the start of the briefing from the head of the PO, the president of the independent self-governing trade union of Rafako workers, Marek Langer, thanked Tusk for his January commitment.
On Monday, Tauron and Rafako reached an agreement before the prosecution on the terms of a future settlement in a dispute over a 910-megawatt power unit in Jaworzno, worth more than PLN 6 billion. On the effective date of this agreement, the parties will, according to the companies’ information, waive each other’s claims in excess of those covered by the Settlement.
In January this year, Donald Tusk visited Rafako, where he met with staff in the context of the earlier phase of the dispute between the companies, in which Tauron called on Rafako to pay more than PLN 1.3 billion in contractual fines and damages, and Rafako – who questioned Tauron’s demands – announced to file for bankruptcy.
Rafako must be rescued
– declared in Racibórz in January the former Prime Minister and head of the PO, stressing the need for decisions in the case of the dispute between Tauron and Rafako, which is in the hands of the government and makes Tauron realize that it is not his task to destroy Rafako. The government and state-owned companies are there to support Polish companies, not to sink them, the head of the PO said at the time.
Then the situation was dramatic for us
That’s what Langer said on Tuesday.
Tauron and Raphako
In his view, Tusk’s appeal in January regarding the agreement between Tauron and Rafako contributed to the publicity of the case and thereby opened the way to a positive resolution.
On behalf of Rafako employees, apart from the thanks we have sent, we would like to thank you personally – for your help, for your support – once again
remarked the union man.
Tusk stressed that Monday’s information was not yet known when he agreed to Tuesday’s visit to Ensol.
My presence really helped a little, maybe it motivated me, it spurred me to act. So to me that’s the greatest gift possible, that without being in power, having no tools other than a loud voice and good will, I could help
he pointed it out.
He also thanked Ensol’s bosses and staff for allowing them to see a very modern, ambitious company in Racibórz, which has become – as he said – an “authentic solar center”.
I felt a little sad when you told me you couldn’t count on a kind look from the National Center for Research and Development; As we know, the National Center for Research and Development is engaged in financing something other than ambitious Polish companies
– he addressed the employees of Ensol Tusk, referring to the controversy surrounding the NCBiR competition “Fast track – digital innovations”.
Every day we hear about abuses, and unfortunately in many places where I am I hear that Polish technical thinkers, Polish aspiring entrepreneurs cannot count on such favor from the authorities. It is a pity, because it is in the interest of all of us that public money goes to such places and to authentic research that can actually influence the development of industry in Upper Silesia and in Poland
he noticed.
Rafako was the contractor for a new 910 megawatt Tauron power station in Jaworzno worth more than PLN 6 billion. The companies have been arguing for months over problems in the operation of this unit. In the context of mediation with the cooperation of the General Prosecutor’s Office, on February 7 of this year. the parties announced the conclusion of a preliminary agreement, with the conclusion of the settlement announced on March 8; later the deadline was pushed back by two weeks.
It was announced on Monday that an agreement had been reached on the assumptions for the terms of the settlement. It was agreed that Tauron would receive PLN 240 million in bank guarantees for the proper performance by the Racibórz-based company of the contract for the construction of a 910 MW unit in Jaworzno, subject to a prior agreement between Rafako and the guarantors.
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mly/PAP
Source: wPolityce