Energy hard coal mining must slim down a few mines to extract coal at a lower unit price and as demand – wrote the Instrat Foundation on Wednesday. Therefore, in her opinion, restructuring and updating the old closing schedule of mines are necessary.
In the press information sent on Wednesday, the Foundation referred to its own analysis of the situation of the Polish mining – updated to September this year, published a few days earlier.
As reported there, “hard coal mining in 2024 dropped to 40.2 million tonsby 5.5 percent compared to 2023. ” (Monitoring the situation in the industry, the Industrial Development Agency in mid -February this year wrote that mining in 2024 amounted to 43.995 million).
In the Wednesday's information of the institt it was written that:
“From mining companies, the worst (…) Polska Grupa Górnicza (PGG)”, which last year “extracted 17.3 million tons, which is as much as 4 million tons of hard coal less than in the previous year (decrease by 18 %).”
The foundation also pointed out that PGG controls 45 percent domestic energy mining, has seven (most) mines, employs approx. 36 thousand. people (according to PGG data from August 2025, it is about 35,000 – PAP) and receives the largest subsidies from the state budget.
“In the coming days a new deputy minister for mining is to be appointed at the Ministry of Energy. His first task will be to make the plans to mining and closing the mine closing schedule,” wrote in the Wednesday press release header.
The Ministry of Energy asked by PAP about the possibility of establishing such a deputy minister did not comment on this information.
A few days ago, Minister Miłosz Motyk, in an interview with the mining tribune “, said that there is a conversation in the group of coalition partners about” the appointment of the deputy minister also responsible for the mining sector. ” “I think that we will know the name of this person soon. The new deputy minister will be a member of the management of the Ministry of Energy, responsible for dialogue with miners and the transformation process, which applies not only to miners, but also, for example, transforming the mine and property or cooperation with local governments,” said Motyk.
The president and co -founder Michał Hetmański, cited by the foundation, assessed that:
“PGG mining mining, including PGG, must slim down a few mines, in order in those that remain active, bring out coal at a lower unit price and as demanded.”
“Therefore, restructuring and updating the old closing schedule of the mine, which does not provide for serious changes until the late 1930s, are necessary,” said Hetmański.
At the same time referred to the schedule contained in the social agreement of May 2021.which regulates, among others Principles and pace of extinction of energy coal mines in Poland by 2049. The contract has so far affect three coal companies covered by the public support system: PGG, the southern coal group and Węglokoks Country (relationships with JSW postulate the inclusion of this company in the contract).
The Instrat argues that due to the decrease in the demand for hard coal, a revision of dates of closing mines is needed in the social agreement.
“Currently, about 40 million tons of energy coal are used in the entire economy – according to institt forecasts in 2030. It can only be 15 million tonnes. If the closing pace dictates the market, not budget subsidies, then in Poland there will be three to four -four stone coal mines” – the information was written in the information.
The quoted Hetmansk diagnoses that Silesian mining companies have similar operating costs as before, but their effectiveness decreases – they produce less coal, because there is no demand for it, and this means that the subsidies are growing from year to year.
“Not only Silesian mines will fall without restructuring, but even Lublin Bogdanka, which is twice as effective than the competition. The market will shrink even more – in about 5 years the demand for raw material can be up to two -thirds lower. Will politicians finally take this challenge?” – asked the president of the foundation.
The information also indicates that the project of next year's state budget provides for approx. PLN 5 billion in support for the mining sector, but the Ministry of Energy and Assets are applying for at least PLN 2.5 billion more and refers to the demand of companies reaching over PLN 10 billion (support is about PLN 9 billion).
The Foundation reminds that the Act on the functioning of hard coal mining, amended in the wake of the social agreement, assumed PLN 28.8 billion in public aid for the 2031 industry, but the government is applying to the European Commission for permission for PLN 42 billion in assistance until 2030.
The cited manager of the Just Transformation Support Team at the Instrat Foundation Iwona Bojadjijewa estimated that these billions could be allocated to the development of regions, which today depend on coal and their inhabitants.
“We pay up to PLN 500 to each ton of excavated coal as part of an illegal public aid, not approved by the European Commission, and the cost of extracting Polish coal has exceeded almost twice the price of coal in the ports of Ara. Miners and their families need a real plan for the future, and not payable for production,” said Bojadjijewa.
In the opinion of the institt, the funds should be found primarily for the support of the costumeing of miners, creating new jobs in low and zero-emission industries, and the cover solutions contained in the draft amendment to the Mining Act for several months.
The Instrat Foundation is a Polish Think-Tank dealing with conducting research programs, including in the field of digital economy, energy and environment, sustainable finances, labor market and unevenness.
The social agreement assumed, among others, that the movements of the Ruda mine: Halemba and Bielszowice will end operation in 2024 (this was extended), Bolesław Śmiały in 2028, Sośnica a year later, Piast in 2035, and Ziemowit – two years later.
The Murcki-Staszic mine, according to the agreement, would end operation in 2039, and the mines: Bobrek and Brzeszcze in 2040 (Bobrek works until the end of this year to the end of this year). Mysłowice-Wesoła is to end mining in 2041, Rydułtowy in 2043, Marcel in 2046, and Chwałowice and Jankowice in 2049, like the Sobieski and Janina mines, as well as Bogdanka. (PAP)
MTB/ JLS/ MALK/
