Poland seeks to nationalise coal plants so firms can finance green investments
Warsaw’s energy transition proposals will require state aid approval from the European Commission, which is expected to insist on a coal exit date
The Polish government is planning to nationalise dozens of coal plants and use public money to keep them running to allow state-owned energy companies to invest in greener alternatives.
The proposal by the ministry of state assets is part of negotiations between the government and energy companies to restructure the ailing coal sector.
Under the plan, 70 lignite coal units, which generated more than half of Poland’s electricity in 2020, will be purchased by the state and handed over to a single state-run National Energy Security Agency (NABE).