Addressing lawmakers in the lower house, the Sejm, on Friday, Mateusz Morawiecki said he had instructed state-owned coal companies “to increase output so that Poland has a surplus of coal,” public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
He vowed the reserves would be sufficient "for the next two winters."
Morawiecki added that Poland would continue to supplement domestic production with coal imported from other countries, excluding Russia, the IAR news agency reported.
Polish lawmakers on Friday voted overwhelmingly to approve a government plan to help households buy coal for heating in winter.
Gas storage almost 100% full
Morawiecki also told MPs that Poland would have enough natural gas supplies to meet domestic demand.
“In three months’ time, the Baltic Pipe will be launched, bringing gas from Norway to Poland,” he said.
He added that, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin’s natural resources policy, his government had made sure to stockpile enough gas.
“Just after the war started, we began to fill up our storage facilities, which are now almost 100 percent full,” he stated.
Morawiecki also told parliament that his government had "extended the current gas rates" for households until 2027.
“It means lower gas prices for Polish households,” he said.
The Baltic Pipe, designed to bring Norwegian gas to Poland via Denmark, is set to be launched on October 1.
In 2023, the pipeline will reach its full capacity of 10 billion cubic metres of gas per year, officials said.
Friday is day 149 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: IAR, wnp.pl, wgospodarce.pl