A Polish coal mine situated near the Czech border has received temporary reprieve and will continue its operations for the time being, as per a report by the state news agency PAP on Wednesday. This decision follows a series of contradictory court rulings that have left the mine’s fate uncertain.
Under the previous nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government, efforts led by environmental activists to close the Turow mine were staunchly resisted. The mine, which supplies lignite to a nearby power plant contributing to 8% of Poland’s energy, has been a focal point of contention.
According to PAP’s report, a recent court ruling overturned a decision from 2022 that permitted the mine to continue operating. However, the court refrained from passing judgment on policy matters, allowing the mine to remain operational despite the ruling.
The primary case concerning the Turow mine is still pending in a Warsaw administrative court, which will decide on a government directive issued in February 2023. This directive granted permission for Turow to continue its mining activities until 2044.
The court’s statement, as cited by PAP, clarified that the ruling pertaining to environmental concerns does not immediately halt the mine’s operations, and it did not evaluate the state’s energy policy.
Environmental organizations have long criticized the environmental impact of the Turow open-pit mine and have filed multiple lawsuits aimed at ceasing its activities.
In response to the latest developments, the state-controlled utility PGE unit, which owns the Turow mine and the adjacent power plant, stated that it is awaiting the written justification of the court’s decision and is assessing its next steps in this ongoing legal battle.
The current government, elected in October, has expressed its commitm
