The looming closure of the Turów coal mine could push Poland and its businesses into hardship, according to Wojciech Ilnicki, head of NSZZ Solidarity at KWB Turów, who spoke to PAP. The provincial administrative court’s decision to pause the environmental decree tied to the mine’s concession beyond 2026 has been described as outrageous by several stakeholders.
The Warsaw Provincial Administrative Court halted the environmental conditions tied to Turów’s coal mining concession for years after 2026. The complaint against the decree was filed in autumn 2022 by the Frank Bold Foundation, Greenpeace, and the Ecological Association EKO-UNIA.
During a visit to the Turów lignite mine, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki asserted that the country would not allow the mine to close and that every effort would be made to keep the mine operating smoothly through the end of 2044. He characterized the court ruling as lawless and a direct blow to Polish interests.
Wojciech Ilnicki, chair of NSZZ Solidarity at KWB Turów, told PAP that the Warsaw decision amounted to an outrageous ruling by a judge perceived as favorable to German and Russian interests, a charge he made in the wake of the court’s action.
He stressed that the ruling would hit Poland and its entrepreneurs hardest, warning of significant economic fallout if Turów were shuttered.
Turow’s Role in Poland’s Energy Mix
Turów accounts for about 8 percent of Poland’s cheapest electricity and serves as a secure source of conventional energy, complementing renewable generation and supporting a stable energy supply for the country.
Ilnicki reiterated that closing the mine would not only affect energy security but also threaten the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers and related industries, potentially pushing many into poverty.
He underscored the urgency for the Polish government to guarantee that Turów remains operational. He noted that a team has been formed to prepare an appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court.
In a statement, the energy company PGE indicated that the Warsaw court’s decision to suspend the environmental decree represented a serious legal violation, pointing to the environmental conditions established earlier by the General Directorate for Environmental Protection as the basis for the suspension. The environmental decision had been challenged by environmental groups from Germany and the Czech Republic, who argued for stricter protections and review.
These developments come amid ongoing debates about cross-border environmental responsibilities and the balance between energy needs and environmental safeguards in Central Europe.