Rescue plan for mining sector to be ready by end-year

Wojciech Kowalczyk, who has been named the government’s representative for the restructuring of the coal mining sector, told MPs on Thursday that he would present a rescue plan by the end of December. “At the latest government sitting, the deadline for presenting the rescue plan for the sector, especially for Kompania Węglowa, has been extended until the end of December,” he was quoted as saying by the Polish Press Agency. He added that the situation of the coal mining industry is difficult. Extraction has declined to 58 million metric tons in January-October compared to 62 million tons in the corresponding period of 2013. “The net profitability rate is at minus 2.9 percent, we have to provide some PLN 34 financing per ton,” Kowalczyk added. The government official stated that in the plan, the priorities will be jobs, miners’ security and energy security.