Over 99% of the hard coal and lignite used by the power industry in Poland comes from Polish mines.

Polish coal-fired power stations are the major consumers of raw materials extracted in domestic mines, providing a stable market for domestic hard coal and lignite mining. They consume almost all the coal extracted by Polish miners. According to the calculations of the Ministry of State Assets, more than 99 percent of hard coal and lignite used by the power industry comes from Polish mines.

Mining Sector

As a strategic electricity generator for Poland, NABE will remain a key partner for Polish mines, providing a stable market for the Polish mining industry. The reduction in the production of energy from fossil fuels expected in the coming years will be achieved step by step, in line with the principles of just transition. One of the goals is to adapt the pace of change to the needs of market for energy fuel, the pace of RES development, and to realistic options to adapt the labour market;

The reduction of coal-fired power generation and gradual shutdown of the least efficient power plants will take into account the pace of restructuring in the coal mining sector. Ultimately, solutions creating stable jobs in other sectors will also be introduced. Energy transition that is just and provides social security will provide a balanced environment for restructuring the labour market, in tune with the needs of communities with strong mining and conventional energy history. Regional transformation will include: building new industries, reskilling and upskilling of workers, creating new innovative enterprises or developing existing ones. An effective transition must be just and socially acceptable;

A key tool for this process is the EU Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) and the Just Transition Fund (JTF). EU funding will be available to support regions with the highest degree of transition, where retraining and active integration of workers and job seekers will be necessary.

The creation of NABE will not result in changes to the way consumers are billed for their electricity supply.

Bills for households, companies and institutions will be issued by the same companies that have done this to date and under the terms and conditions that have applied so far. The relationship between consumers and energy retailers remains unchanged.

Consumer

In the context of the ongoing energy crisis across Europe, energy consumers in Poland enjoy special protection against electricity price fluctuations as tariffs for the supply of electricity to households are subject to approval by the President of the Energy Regulatory Office, who each time verifies whether price changes are justified;

In addition, the government has adopted an ‘anti-inflation shield’, a set of measures that help limit the costs of electricity purchase, including energy allowances for vulnerable consumers who are at risk of fuel poverty and temporary reductions in excise duty and VAT on electricity.

With improved security of energy supplies through NABE, energy transition will lead to a stronger diversification of energy sources and a rapid growth of RES in Poland.

Stable prospects for secure energy supplies from domestic coal will be ensured until Poland deploys its own nuclear energy assets.

Energy Sector

As the European markets for raw materials, so far dominated by Russia, are experiencing instability domestic resources will tentatively remain the core component of the Polish energy mix. The transformation of the energy sector and the transition to low- and zero-emission sources, such as RES, cannot be achieved without stable energy supplies for the entire economy;

NABE will safeguard Poland’s energy security and ensure energy and raw materials sovereignty, regardless of the influence of external factors, including Russia’s aggressive policies. Unlike other EU Member States, Poland is in a unique position as it has its own reserves of domestically mined thermal coal which give the country independence from imports from Russia;

Due to the transfer of coal assets to NABE, state-owned energy groups will be able to focus on investing in low- and zero-emission technologies, primarily in renewable energy sources. At present, financial institutions avoid financing companies with coal assets in their portfolio, which inhibits energy transition in Poland. Financial sector practices are leading to an excessive increase in the cost of investments in renewable energy sources. Many of them are multi-billion-dollar projects. After coal assets have been transferred to NABE, PGE, Tauron, Energa and Enea will have easier access to cheaper financing of RES projects. With better access to financial markets, they will be able to accelerate investment in renewable energy sources. Consequently, Poland will fulfil its obligations under the EU’s energy transition and climate policy;

The concept of separating coal assets from energy companies has been tested before in other EU countries, including Germany. The separation of conventional power generation from energy companies has contributed to an investment impulse enabling a shift towards the development of RES as key generation assets. The market model  designed in Poland with the central role to be played by NABE leverages on the historical strengths, current market developments and the ongoing energy crisis, and it meets the social challenge accompanying the energy transition process.