Polish mining crisis had been resolved. But only temporarily – Politics

Polish mining crisis had been resolved. But only temporarily – Politics

In the original Coal Company rescue plans prepared by a government minister team Kowalczyk was little. Withdrawn its intention to close unprofitable mines. No exemptions. Neither fedrujących miners underground, or employees of departments processing or administration.

shield programs was limited even for people leaving work in the mining industry. Trade union does not want to state employees tempted money. They could use, and we depend on jobs in the mining industry. Initially estimated cost of the operation at 2.5 billion zł, but what will be the final balance – it’s hard to guess.

The signatories had agreed that there will be support for the European Investment Fund for the coal mining industry. If you do not get it, the whole Polish taxpayers pay, not for the first time. Past mining restructuring costs already cost over 100 zł billion of public money.

Coal Company in its present form will cease to exist. Will be divided between the state companies that have the cash or can borrow. Mines in the worst condition will go to the Company’s Restructuring of Mines, which has direct access to the public coffers. The other, under the banner of the New Coal Company, will take on the pot Węglokoks state and national energy companies.

unionists managed to achieve something long dreamed of: are linked to energy. Run out of price negotiations between power plants and coal mines. Power engineers will pay for coal so that miners pay to dig, but not as much due to the price of coal on the global markets – think the miners. Today plants bargain, buy too little, the slightest opportunity to exclude coal blocks, because cheaper to burn lignite. It’s over. And energy consumers simply will add to the carbon tax bill. Such national discard on mining.

Is Polish mining healed? I have the impression that the crisis was averted only temporarily. Healing mines, instead of closing them, it sounds impressive, but conducted under the dictation of trade unions may be a pipe dream. Especially since healed mines are objectively difficult conditions. How to make where today ton of coal mining costs 300 zł, cost 150 zł? And this is not limited to employment, which now accounts for 60 per cent. costs? And finally, the basic question: what to do with coal mined?

Coal Company today has millions of tons of in landfills. The restructuring is to increase productivity, because today one employee falls annually approx. 600 tons of coal mined, while in Bogdanka – 1600 t. Power, even if it is pressed against his knee, he does not buy the whole carbon accumulated in landfills. Especially since you can only push the state-owned companies, but not private, which is more and more.

It also dramatically increases the production of energy from coal, because today, electricity prices are so high that some of the energy-intensive industry is a Polish or imports of electricity from abroad. If imported last year in the country to produce energy from coal, it would take approx. 3 million tons. Also on the export of coal not count, because when the market price of $ 65 per tonne there is no chance of any profit.

You can live the illusion that the mining laws of economics do not apply. But sooner or later must come to a painful awakening. And in this case will very quickly. Katowice Coal Holding could announce that he will find himself in a similar situation as Coal Company in April.