2019-11-30 15:10 update: 2019-12-05, 19:33
Photo: PAP/Maciej Kulczyński
Polish President Andrzej Duda visited miners in Turow brown coal mine in Bogatynia, south-west Poland on Saturday, ahead of the Miners' Day, observed annually in Poland on December 4.
Coal mining is a huge task and service that you perform for Poland, ensuring energy security, the president said addressing the miners during a gala event.
He added that the mine, which started its operation in Bogatynia 72 years ago, over that time has extracted one billion tonnes of coal and "has been building Poland's energy potential," and today secures electricity to 2.3 million households.
Duda also said that the state awards presented by him to the miners on Saturday are a "symbol of recognition and great respect" for their work.
The president also said that the coal-fired Turow power plant will be expanded with a new power-generating unit, based on low-emission coal, which will soon provide electricity to another million of households.
According to Duda, energy transformation needed to protect the climate must be carried out with respect for working people and the quality of life. He added that Poland needs to invest in research, development and the search for new technologies, "while our industry and energy mix require changes." He said that the energy transformation must be accomplished through "sensible use of our natural resources."
The president said that the observance of a 'just transition' principle was a call of "such states as Poland, which have the inherited industry. He added that this just transition or just transformation should be carried out in a way, which is safe both for a human being and for the development and functioning of a state." (PAP)
mr/at/
