5:04 3 October 2025
JSW faces bankruptcy risk
Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa (JSW), Europe’s largest producer of coking coal, is on the brink of bankruptcy, with liquidity potentially running out by March 2026. The company posted a PLN 2.1 billion net loss in the first half of 2025. Up to 3,000 employees could leave, raising questions about severance payouts of PLN 170,000.
Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka confirmed the government is considering amendments to the Mining Act, which would provide protections for workers at closing mines. The proposal includes severance packages for those with at least three years’ service, and mining leave—80% of monthly pay—for employees near retirement. Regulators estimate 3,500 miners and 240 plant workers could benefit.
JSW management has requested inclusion in the act, but the Ministry of Finance rejected additional funding through bond issuance, insisting the PLN 5.5 billion earmarked in the 2026 budget for mining restructuring remains the limit.
