The Role of Coal in the Polish Economy

Abstract

The paper shows the structure of primary energy production and consumption in Poland over the last ten years, i.e. between 2010
and 2019. The authors focused in particular on energy raw materials, especially on steam coal being the basic raw material used to
produce electricity and heat. The diagrams show energy production and consumption in the analysed period in Petajoule (PJ), then the
consumption per capita is shown providing some indication of the living standard of the population. The structure of fuel production
in Poland in the years 2010, 2015 and 2019 displays the dominant role of solid fuels, especially steam coal with its nearly 40% share
in 2010. In the following years, its share decreased, but still amounts to almost 30%. The remaining solid fuels such as coking coal and
lignite are less relevant in this structure, although they are very important for Polish economy. In various years, the share of coking coal
ranged from 8.6 to 10.0%, and that of lignite from 9.3 to 13.0%. Liquid and gaseous fuels are produced in Poland in small quantities,
and the varying percentage level depends on the volume of solid fuels produced in particular years.