Poland approves program for the coal sector. Capex at over PLN 2 bln annually

In the program for coal mining sector approved by the government, the sector capex has been set at PLN 2.3 billion for 2018 and 2019, and PLN 2 billion for 2020. Afterward, till 2030, the investment spending has been set at over PLN 2 billion annually. In 2017,  capex in the sector amounted to PLN 1.3 billion. Furthermore, the government forecasts domestic demand for coal at some 70 million metric tons of coal annually till 2030. Poland expects annual production will remain stable but the share of coal in the energy mix will be declining. The 100-page long program was developed to “satisfy the domestic demand for hard coal and guaranteeing its necessary supplies to the domestic market, improve the working conditions of miners in underground excavations and reducing the number of accidents at work, support the competitiveness of the domestic energy market, heat and coke market through access to raw materials at a reasonable and competitive cost, as well as providing an energy carrier acceptable from the point of view of environmental protection and protection of agricultural production space,” according to the statement released after the cabinet sitting.