Warsaw, 02/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - A seminar on the strategic energy technology plan (SET-Plan) in Warsaw on 28-29 November provided the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, with the support of (Polish) President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, to restate its attachment to an energy source, highly controversial in terms of the environment and the climate - coal.
“Europe wants to put in place a low-carbon economy, but that does not mean coal-free. There's a difference”, Buzek said. “The Polish government will use coal, but sparingly so as not to harm the environment”, he promised. That, he pointed out, is the role of new technology: to find a clean way of using this fossil fuel. “It's about limiting emissions, not about energy sources”, Buzek added, promising that, in this area, “it is possible to considerably amend the EU approach”. “We do not have to get rid of all fossil fuels. Poland is showing the way since it has succeeded both in reducing its CO2 emissions and maintaining its economic growth”, stated Polish Economy Minister Waldemar Pawlak.
In Poland, 94% of electricity is generated by coal. The country emits nine tonnes of CO2 per inhabitant per year, double the European average. (VW/transl.rt)