Poland's Minister of State Property Jacek Sasin said that the country is forced to postpone the closure of coal mines, but their final date of operation – 2049 – will remain unchanged.
The closure will begin after the start-up of the first nuclear power plant, reports Euratians.
"We cannot depend on imported coal, which is much more expensive than ours. That's why we need to delay closing the mines," Sasin said.
The article also noted that Poland recently announced cooperation with US and South Korean companies on nuclear projects. The country's first nuclear power plant is expected to be built in 2033.
Sasin emphasized that no operating coal mines could be closed before the first reactor was launched.
He also said that coal production in the coming months will be somewhat higher than it was in previous years, because coal imports have already reached the maximum capacity of the ports.
Sasin emphasized that the amount of coal that can be used for heating houses should cover the needs of Polish households.
"I'd rather have too much than too little," he said.
The material noted that in order to mitigate the consequences of rising coal prices, the government distributed a one-time subsidy in the amount of € 642 to all households that applied and proved they had coal stoves. After all, in 2018, a third of Polish households used hard coal as the main fuel for heating.
As EcoPolitic reported earlier, in March 2022, the Government of Poland adopted a draft law for bans on the import of Russian coal, which accounts for about 20% of domestic consumption.
