Mining sector receives second part of World Bank loan

"On Thursday the World Bank paid the second installment of the loan granted to Poland in 1999 of euro 211 million," said deputy Economy Minister Andrzej Karbownik. He also added that payment of the second installment signalled Poland had fulfilled the World Bank requirements of the coal-mining industry reconstructing process. This means closing mines, preventing mining risks and sustaining the pace of miner layoffs. Representatives of the World Bank have even said layoffs were done quicker than planned. The second loan installment will be spent on miner retraining, miners social packages and closing mines. The World Bank also said it might grant the third installment at the beginning of 2001. Unofficial sources say the third installment will focus on the environment. The first installment of $70 million was paid at the end of last year. (Prawo i Gospodarka, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, page 1, 3, Gazeta Wyborcza, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, page 27)