Poland’s government has approved an allowance of 3,000 zloty (€630) to households to help them buy coal after admitting that a recently introduced plan to cap skyrocketing prices has failed.
Around 35% of Polish homes use coal for heating and a total of 11.5 billion zloty (€2.4 billion) will be allocated for the new programme.
“Thanks to the proposed regulations, households will be able to use a one-off coal allowance, which will amount to 3,000 zloty,” announced climate minister Anna Moskwa today. “The allowance will be granted to households for which the main source of heating is coal.”
With global fuel prices soaring since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – and Poland’s decision in April to ban imports of coal from Russia adding to supply problems – there are fears that many households will struggle to afford heating this autumn and winter.
Last month, the government announced that it was introducing a guaranteed maximum price for coal of 996.60 zloty per tonne. Sellers would be compensated for lost profits, but only up to 1073.13 zloty per tonne. As market prices had already reached 3,000 per tonne in June, the optional programme proved unpopular with businesses.
At the weekend, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki admitted that there had been “problems” with the system and “that in the coal warehouses there is no willingness to cooperate that we expected at the beginning”.
Under the new system announced today, the maximum prices will be scrapped and state money will go directly to consumers rather than coal sellers. Moskwa announced that the previous rules will remain in force for any businesses willing to participate until the new programme is implemented.
The new allowance will be available to households where the main source of heating is coal or pellets containing at least 85% hard coal. “There are no income criteria, which means anyone who has such a heater can apply,” said Moskwa.
Households wishing to participate in the programme must apply by 30 November this year. Then the relevant municipality has up to one month to pay the granted allowance, which will not be taxed. Notes from Poland - link - Alicja Ptak - link - more like this (coal) - link - more like this (Poland) - link
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