Miners' protest in Katowice. Unions are demanding that mines operate longer

The trade unionists' protest started at 10.00 in front of the headquarters of the Ministry of Energy in Katowice. The miners demand that the operation of the Sośnica and Bolesław Śmiały mines be extended for another 4-5 years. According to them, there are still about 5 million tons of coal underground that could be mined.

They argue that closing plants means not only the loss of jobs, but also a threat to the country's energy security.

Criticism of government and European Union policy

Demonstration participants emphasize that current decisions may negatively affect the whole of Poland, not only the Silesian region.

There's more to it than that. This is not an issue of Silesia and mining. This is a matter of Poland's energy security. Our energy system is in a sorry state, and it will only get worse because we consistently switch our energy production to gas, which we do not have. So we need a return to coal, a suspension of the decision on the liquidation of mines such as Bolesław Śmiały or Sośnica, a suspension of excessive coal imports, and also the launch of a new open-pit mine for the Bełchatów power plant. It's about the Złoczew open-pit mine - said the chairman of the August 80 Trade Union, Bogusław Ziętek, in a conversation with RMF FM reporter Anna Kropaczek.

Trade unionists' demands also included a demand for Poland to leave the Green Deal.