Szymon Majewski, Business Insider Polska: What place in the new strategy of the entire PGE group does PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konventionalna SA occupy?
Jacek Kaczorowski, president of PGE GIEK: The PGE group strategy determines the ambitious direction of energy transformation. PGE GIEK, as the largest producer of electricity from conventional fuels, remains its key element – although of course with a completely new role. In the next decade, our coal units will remain technically necessary for the stability of the national power system, but their function will be gradually limited. Ultimately, they will become a system reserve, which is why we implement a management model that adapts their economics to the new realities of the energy market.
However, I would like to emphasize that the energy transformation is the end of a certain era, but also the beginning of a new stage – and in those places that today create the energy heart of Poland, i.e. in Bełchatów, Turów, Opole, Rybnik and Gryfino. Gas and steam blocks, wind gyms, photovoltaic farms, peak-pump power plants and even nuclear energy-the group's strategy assumes that every PGE Giek SA branch will receive a new role, adapted to its potential, infrastructure and competences of people who work in it today. We are convinced that poelous and co -cooped areas are not a problem, but a chance – that's why their responsible development is so important. At PGE GIEK SA, we have knowledge and experience that allow for effective management of property and preparation of assets for new functions: energy, industrial or recreational.
PGE GIEK coal assets will be excluded from the group's structure?
Jacek Kaczorowski, president of PGE GIEK: Such decisions belong to the owners – that is primarily the Treasury. A special team appointed at the Ministry of State Asset conducts analyzes that will answer the question of how to transform a transformation in a balanced, responsible and fair manner. We are waiting for a decision, but we do not stand still – we are consistently preparing for these changes.
So, what does the schedule of quenching carbon units look like then in Bełchatów, Turów and other locations belonging to PGE Giek?
PGE GIEK SA includes two brown coal mines – in Bełchatów and Turów – along with the power plants cooperating with them and three hard coal power plants: in Opole, Rybnik and Gryfino. We produce approx. 40 percent energy in the area of conventional energy, so without our assets, the power system could not function. It is obvious that the irresponsible exclusion of blocks could lead to a situation that we recently observed in Portugal and Spain. Therefore, the plan assumes gradual exclusions, with the assumption that the most effective units will operate for the longest. They will create the so -called strategic reserve, which works on.
In Bełchatów, in connection with the depletion of deposits, turning off the blocks will start after 2030 and will last for several years. Older 360 MW and 380 MW blocks will be extended first. The block that will operate the longest is the youngest and high -level 858 MW.
Similarly, the blocking of blocks is to take place in the energy complex in Turów – here it will also start in 2030. The most effective 496 MW block will work the longest.
The license in Turów is valid until 2044, but how long the energy will be produced here will largely depend on the demand of the national power system.
In the case of hard coal power plants, by the end of 2026, four 200 MW coal blocks will be maintained at the Rybnik power plant, then two blocks will be withdrawn from operation, and two more will be excluded in 2027. Earlier arrangements spoke about the end of 2025, but in the arrangement with Polish electricity networks, new schedules of block operation were indicated taking into account the network needs of the national power system.
What the future of the Dolna Odra and Rybnik power plant will finally look like, the power market auctions for coal sources will decide until 2028. As for Opole, the strategic reserve can go to two most modern blocks with a capacity of 900 MW – next to Tauron blocks in Jaworzno and Enei in Kozienice – these are the most effective units burning coal in Poland.
Successive extinguishing of carbon blocks is inevitable. However, I would like to emphasize that in all our locations we are working on projects that will replace closed coal installations – both in terms of power and jobs. People working in PGE Giek SA are very important to us today. The PGE strategy emphasized that the current employees of the mine and power plant will be employed in the group's new investments first. This is an important declaration that will allow us to use the knowledge and vast experience of our crew.
The Polish Committee of Electricity proposed to exclude carbon units from the ETS system that work less than 300 hours a year.
This is one of the possible types of support for individuals that will work less and less often, although it is only a drop in the sea of needs and is not a panacea for the lack of permanent profitability of energy production from hard and brown coal. That is why, in addition to optimizing operating costs, we try to optimize the costs of the mine in Bełchatów and Turów. Thanks to this, the production based on brown coal from Bełchatów and Turów is still in the Merit Order, or the “ranking” of sources included in the system, starting from those with the lowest production costs.
How do you evaluate the possibilities of using the Fund for a Just Transformation?
The fund is directed directly to the regions, and the beneficiaries are local governments. The Bełchatów region is already using support – the Marshal's Office of the Łódź Voivodeship has an amount of EUR 375 million, including for entrepreneurship support and vocational training. In Turów, there was no such activity of local government officials who slept a few years ago in which they could try to try to. I know that now in the Turoszowski sack there is interest in the fund. During the April meeting of the Sejm Committee on Economy and Development, local government officials asked me about the block of disabling blocks in Turów. With this schedule, they can seek FST funds in the next hand.
We talk about the successive extinguishing of the power plant. What then will replace the gap in power after turning off the coal blocks?
To a large extent, they will be gas units that will work for 17 years thanks to power contracts. Blocks with a power of nearly 1.4 GW are already working at the PGE Gryfino Dolna Odra Power Plant, two more projects with a capacity of 400-600 MW are also considered. From 2027, a gas block with a capacity of nearly 900 MW will start operating in Rybnik. In Turów, we consider a 400-600 MW gas block.
To sum up, before the planned launch of large -scale nuclear energy in Poland, i.e. in the transition period, gas units will fill the coal gap.
Bełchatów is seeking a large -scale nuclear power plant. What according to you speaks for this location?
Bełchatów, the heart of the Polish power system, was indicated as the preferred location in the Polish nuclear energy program. The region has many advantages: sufficient water resources, well -tested tectonics, infrastructure that allows you to derive 5 GW power and central location to reduce transmission losses.
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In addition, we have qualified staff – we have been managing key assets for 50 years, we have built, among others The first unit with ancritic parameters of 858 MW and the first wind farm in Poland in the excavation. With full awareness I can say that there is no project that Bełchatów will not bear. Yes, this location is ready to build a nuclear power plant.
At the same time, such an investment is very much needed for the region. While working on the project of analyzing the possibilities of the large -scale nuclear power plant, we checked that at the stage of its implementation, employment for a period of 10 years can find up to 11,000. people. This will compensate for the loss of jobs related to the extraction and burning of coal. We currently employ around 7,000 in Bełchatów, in PGE GIEK SA. people. There would be about 500 positions in the nuclear power plant, but the multiplier effect associated with service and service will provide 2,000. jobs. There would be job offers from companies that will be in the industrial zone around the new power plant.
We perfectly understand that the replacement of jobs is important not only in Bełchatów, but in all our locations. We want PGE and PGE GIEK, along with leaving coal, to present the regions with a new offer.
Do you think the Bełchatów region is ready for such a big change?
Yes. There is a great awareness of the scale of the undertaking and equally high social support. We have the support of local governments and trade unions. Resolutions supporting the location of the power plant in Bełchatów were adopted by: the Sejmik of the Łódź Voivodeship, Bełchatów poviat, Radomsko poviat, Sieradz poviat, Pabianice poviat, Zgierz poviat, city of Łódź, the city of Piotrków Trybunalski, city of Bełchatów, commune of Bełchatów, commune of Kleszczów, Kluki commune and the Provincial Council of Social Diaded of the Łódź Voivodeship.
Resolutions of councilors are not just symbolic gestures – this is the voice of many local communities.
