Polish miners block Russian coal trains

Over 200 Polish miners have blocked trains carrying coal from Russia at a border in northern Poland, Reuters reports.

The miners are protesting against the cheaper Russian coal being imported in to Poland, while local mines are struggling, according to mining union leaders.

Poland uses coal to generate approximately 90% of its electricity, and produced 76.5 million tonnes last year. The country imported 10.8 million tonnes, most of which came from Russia and the Czech Republic. This imported coal is cheaper than that produced by Poland’s largest miners.

Jaroslaw Grzesik, leader of the mining Solidarity union, told Reuters: “Right now around 80% of tenders for coal supplies to units run from the state budget are won by suppliers of imported coal, because they offer dumping prices.”

Another union representative, Dominik Kolorz, explained that the miners may block the Braniewo-Mamonowo passage until a government representative is dispatched to hear their demands.

Edited from various sources by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/24092014/polish-coal-miners-block-russian-trains-1342/