About 30 trade unions of mines and power stations of Belchatov and Turov appealed to Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Workers of trade unions call for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belchatov region. In their view, this will prevent a social, economic and environmental catastrophe.
Adam Blada, the head of the trade union of permanent workers of KVB Belchatow, reported that an appeal was sent to support the activity aimed at the construction of a nuclear power plant in the Belchatow region as part of the fair transformation of the Polish energy industry. at the beginning of the week to the prime minister's office. It was noted that this is related to the increasingly clear signals of the dismantling of coal-fired power generation units and, therefore, the dismantling of mines and related power stations.
Trade unionists: we want a clear message
“We do not want to share the fate of the disastrous development of the Lower Silesia (Walbrzych) coal basin. We have decided that Belchatow will remain the energy center of Poland for many years. Let's sit together at the negotiating table in it is possible to turn even the most difficult problem into a general success” – it is emphasized in the petition signed by about 30 trade unions of mines and power stations of Belchatov and Turov.
It was noted that since 1980 in Belchatov, more than 20,000 people were connected with the mineral-mining and energy complex or are directly connected. people Currently, 4.5 thousand people work in the mine and 2.7 thousand people work in the power station. Subsidiary enterprises of the cooperative provide employment to 5,500 people. workers The capacity of coal reserves in the mine, technical complex and investment and its reconstruction were also mentioned.
“Reckless actions in the process of transforming the energy problem can contribute to a social, economic and environmental catastrophe from which the Belchatov region will never recover,” it is written.
Employees of the trade unions admitted that they know the need for changes and see opportunities and good solutions for Belchatov and its surroundings. “We want to have a clear message whether the government will use the full potential of this site for a nuclear power plant,” the statement said.
Nuclear power station near Belchatov
According to trade unions, the reasons for placing a nuclear power plant in the Belchatov complex include: the existing electrical network around Belchatov; road and railway transport network; availability of cooling water for nuclear facilities; developed areas with complete infrastructure, which have been associated with industrial and cultural activities for years; the possibility of using the existing infrastructure of a coal block to build a nuclear block; the potential of working with engineering and technical workers; greater social acceptance in industrialized areas under conditions of decarbonization.
“And above all, the presence of a major partner, PGE GiEK SA, which is the only one that can carry out the necessary changes in a short period of time in a practical, methodical and effective way. (…) PGE GiEK SA can guarantee the execution of this operation based on human, operational and hardware resources,” he added.
According to the trade unions, premature decommissioning of coal without an alternative solution is socially unacceptable and, in addition, it will cost the state billions in the costs of decommissioning industrial facilities in mines and power plants, forced departures. employees, as well as accusations of unwise management of the deposit.
“Considering the above, we ask you to support activities for the development of the Belchatov region, including activities aimed at obtaining consent for the location of the nuclear power plant and the date of the start of negotiations at the same table, which will be let's plan the implementation of our project together,” the trade unions appealed to the prime minister.
Belchatov Power Plant Shutterstock
Advantages of Belchatov
Jacek Kaczorowski, president of PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Obywatelalna, said the consideration of central Poland as a site for a nuclear project is the subject of preliminary analyses. – Belchatov has a capacity of 5.5 gigawatts, enough for a nuclear project. It also has water resources at its disposal, which allows the direct location of the nuclear power plant, human resources and social consent, he said.
He emphasized that no decisions have been made and they are not the responsibility of the company. The project is a conceptual stage that includes the preparation of analyzes that will allow decision makers to make the best decision.
The current version of the Polish Nuclear Energy Program (PPEJ) from 2020 envisages the construction of two nuclear power plants with a total capacity of 6-9 GW by the company 100%. to the State Treasury, Polskie Elektroownie Jądrowe (PEJ) as investor and operator. The previous government named the Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium as the partner for the first power plant. It should be built in Lubiatovo-Kopalino area of Pomerania.
The Ministry of Climate has announced that the PPEJ will be updated at the end of this year. This program envisages the construction of small reactors in Poland.
Main photo source: PAP
