Gov’t laying path for new mining company
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
30.09.2015 18:09
The Polish government has announced that it will transfer ailing miner Kompania Węglowa (KW) to a state-controlled fund in an attempt to help the industry.
Photo: Flickr.com/oatsy40
The TF Silesia fund will eventually develop into the Nowa Kompania Węglowa (NKW) conglomerate which is meant as Poland’s answer to the problems in the mining industry.
Other companies which will eventually make part of NKW are utilities PGE and Energa, as well as gas monopoly PGNiG. As many as 11 companies will eventually join NKW.
Kamila Wajszczuk from ISBNews told Radio Poland that she thinks this was a “last minute move” by the government, which is now “claiming that it complies with EU regulations” in terms of CO2 output.
Wajszczuk added that the details and value of the deal are not yet clear, but it could be in reply to threats by mining unions to strike in early October.
The unions accuse the government of not implementing agreements on restructuring the mining industry which were agreed upon in January.
Thursday’s decision could be seen as a step by the government to get the ball rolling. (rg/rk)