Sejm passes coal mining bill - PLN 7 bln for restructuring

The Sejm, the lower house of the Polish parliament, has accepted an amendment to the coal mining bill on allocating PLN 7 billion for the restructuring of its ailing coal sector versus an initial budget of PLN 3 billion. During Wednesday's voting session, 258 MPs voted for the measure, 142 were against, while 36 abstained from voting. The bill will now move on to the upper house of the Polish parliament – the Senate. According to the Energy Minister Krzysztof Tchórzewski, the planned increase to PLN 7 billion will secure means for sector restructuring until the end of 2022 versus a previous end-2018 deadline for PLN 3 billion in restructuring costs.