Speaking at the European Economic Congress on Wednesday, Motyka said Poland and Europe were becoming more energy secure, with recent crises showing that preparations made before emergencies hit can make a decisive difference.
He argued that countries without large domestic energy resources will always face some exposure to external shocks, but said Europe should limit that risk by producing as much energy as possible at home and by building local supply chains and industries.
“We should do everything to base our system on what can be produced here in Europe,” he said. He added that the aim should be to avoid fresh dependence on imported technology or electricity generated outside the continent.
'Business as usual with Russia is no longer possible'
Motyka also used the Katowice meeting to send a broader political message to Europe. He said intergovernmental cooperation in energy should not be broken up by national ambitions aimed at short-term gain. He ruled out any return to normal energy trade with Russia.
“Business as usual with Russia is no longer possible,” he said. He added that any discussion about resuming imports of Russian raw materials would risk creating an even bigger crisis.
Motyka said Poland had been well prepared for the gas crisis that hit Europe in 2022 and described the country as a pioneer in changing supply routes.
He said Poland was also in a strong position when it came to fuel security, even though the electrification of the economy was still less advanced than in some other countries.
He also pointed to recent changes in grid law and said Poland had been among Europe’s pioneers in that field.
The minister said two pillars would define Poland’s electricity strategy: renewable energy sources and nuclear power. He argued that this direction was driven by economics as much as policy, saying renewables were becoming more attractive as energy storage technology, including large-scale storage built by power companies, became cheaper.
“There is no other road for our energy sector than renewables and nuclear,” he said.
He added that as the share of renewables increases in the coming years, electricity prices should fall, though investment costs, including spending on power grids, would still need to be reflected in bills in an orderly way.
Motyka said the government had begun updating Poland's energy policy until 2040, while work on the National Energy and Climate Plan was already advanced at the government level.
Asked whether the pace of transition or stable energy prices mattered more for the economy, he said the first priorities were the reliability and security of the energy system, followed by prices, which affect jobs and economic resilience.
Climate and environmental protection, he said, must also be part of the equation. He warned that if governments put other issues ahead of security, the costs could far exceed the gains and the result might be politically and socially unacceptable.
Motyka said Europe’s renewed interest in nuclear energy was part of a wider effort to strengthen the continent’s economic independence. He said Poland wanted to invest in that kind of European Union and expand its business activity within it.
He also called for faster procedures for energy projects, arguing that investment in generation capacity and grids should be treated as an absolute priority.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP