Opinion on the suspension of extraction at the Turów lignite mine in Poland 2021
In early March 2021, Czechia filed a complaint with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) against Poland regarding the expansion of the Turów opencast lignite mine. The main reason cited in the lawsuit is the mine's negative impact on border regions where groundwater levels have decreased.
In addition, Poland allegedly failed to provide the Czech side with complete information in connection with the procedure of issuing a mining permit until 2026, which also, according to the Czechs, constitutes a direct violation of the principle of loyal cooperation under the Treaty on European Union. Therefore, Prague demanded that Turów's mining be halted pending the CJEU's decision. In May 2021, the CJEU announced that Poland was ordered to immediately cease lignite mining at the Turów mine as a temporary measure. Poland immediately announced that it would not comply with the measure.
On September 20, the CJEU ruled that Poland must pay the European Commission 500 thousand euros per day for failing to implement the temporary measures and not ceasing lignite mining at the Turów mine by reducing subsidies and funds flowing to Poland from EU funds.
The Polish government is in negotiations with the Czech side and does not intend to close the mine. However, closing the mine would force the shutdown of the nearby 2GW Turów power plant, which produces about 5-7 percent of Poland's electricity. It is one of Poland's most important power generation facilities, distributing power from the plant to 3.7 million customers in the Lubuskie and Dolnośląskie voivodeships (including KGHM's smelters), as well as providing power transmission services between Poland, Czechia, and Germany. Turów is also responsible for supplying heating and hot water to approximately 80 percent of the consumers in Bogatynia, including schools, hospitals, and kindergartens.
In addition, Poland allegedly failed to provide the Czech side with complete information in connection with the procedure of issuing a mining permit until 2026, which also, according to the Czechs, constitutes a direct violation of the principle of loyal cooperation under the Treaty on European Union. Therefore, Prague demanded that Turów's mining be halted pending the CJEU's decision. In May 2021, the CJEU announced that Poland was ordered to immediately cease lignite mining at the Turów mine as a temporary measure. Poland immediately announced that it would not comply with the measure.
On September 20, the CJEU ruled that Poland must pay the European Commission 500 thousand euros per day for failing to implement the temporary measures and not ceasing lignite mining at the Turów mine by reducing subsidies and funds flowing to Poland from EU funds.
The Polish government is in negotiations with the Czech side and does not intend to close the mine. However, closing the mine would force the shutdown of the nearby 2GW Turów power plant, which produces about 5-7 percent of Poland's electricity. It is one of Poland's most important power generation facilities, distributing power from the plant to 3.7 million customers in the Lubuskie and Dolnośląskie voivodeships (including KGHM's smelters), as well as providing power transmission services between Poland, Czechia, and Germany. Turów is also responsible for supplying heating and hot water to approximately 80 percent of the consumers in Bogatynia, including schools, hospitals, and kindergartens.
