POLAND NEED COAL

BLOOMBERG - August 6, 2025 - Poland’s new energy minister said he supports a moderate path to zeroing out emissions, allowing some coal-fired power plant to still be used in 2040.

Poland is in the process of thrashing out its 2040 energy policy, with progress delayed by government infighting. There are two scenarios on the table: one where coal almost completely disappears from the energy mix by 2040 and a “business as usual” scenario, where the dirty fuel retains a role.

Energy Minister Milosz Motyka said he prefers the second, more cautious approach, in an interview last week. The climate ministry, which prepared the scenarios and where until recently Motyka served as a deputy minister, says the cleaner approach will lower electricity prices faster.

Europe’s climate policy is at an important moment as it tries to get political backing for its ambitious 2040 target. Poland has been among the countries asking for more wiggle room on how to implement the required emission cuts. The move is part of a global reluctance to commit to clean energy beyond the broad statements made at climate talks.

Motyka says he is instead focusing on keeping down the cost of electricity for households and businesses and ensuring security of supply. He’s a big proponent of the renewable energy, having backed a plan to ease rules for the construction of onshore wind farms.

Motyka, 32, steps into the role as head of a new ministry created by Prime Minister Donald Tusk during last month’s cabinet reshuffle. Tusk has hailed clean energy as an engine for Poland’s booming economy, but already this is being tested. He has also criticized the EU for its “too stringent” environmental policies.

Poland, the European Union’s most coal-reliant economy, has said it will cost roughly $400 billion to meet the EU’s climate goals. State-run companies plan to invest a record of approximately 600 billion zloty ($162 billion) through 2035 into revamping the energy sector.

That leaves a sizable tab for private investors to pick up and they will expect a return, meaning Motyka will need to strike a balance on how low he wants to push energy prices.

“It’s not only about energy security but also about the stability of supply as well as prices at acceptable levels, which give a chance for an economic growth,” Motyka said.

Another major political concern is keeping the powerful coal miners’ unions happy. The mines in the south of the country employ more than 70,000 people and the government is still subsidizing the industry, with 9 billion zloty set aside for this year alone.

The shift in emphasis away from green energy is at play in neighboring Germany too. The rapid addition of new wind and solar capacities has added pressure for expensive grid expansions and upgrades, with the new government looking to cut down on such costs for consumers.

A further issue on Motyka’s agenda is Poland’s plan to construct nuclear power plants. The nation’s first reactor is due to come online in 2036, while a second remains a possibility.

Even though a decision on a second nuclear plant is years away, Warsaw has invited potential technology suppliers for talks, including from the US, Canada and France, he said.

Reuters reported last month that French utility Electricite de France SA was set to “deprioritize” projects in some countries, including Poland. Motyka said that he didn’t see less interest from EDF in Poland.

How fast electricity demand grows and the lifespan of the coal-fired plants will be determining factors in the decision whether to build both large-scale and small modular reactors, he said.

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