Poland has by far the highest hard coalproduction of any country in the European Union and hardcoal will continue to play a crucial role regarding energysecurity for Poland.Most importantly, hard coal can reduceboth the price and supply risks for Poland associated withoil and gas imports.Poland has a number of low cost mineswith good quality coal where production can be expanded sothat it is feasible for coal to meet domestic demand withoutrequiring operating support from the state budget and if theremaining restructuring of the coal mining sector iscompleted successfully, the sector can again become animportant driver for economic development of Silesia ratherthan a liability. While heavy industries such as hard coaland steel will remain core industries for Silesia, they areunlikely to be sources of increased employment in future.The growth sectors for Silesia are to be found in highertechnology (including coal-based technologies) and serviceindustries.The next few years, while EU funds areavailable, offer Silesia a window of opportunity to developthese new sectors.It is, therefore, important that thecoal industry release its surplus employees and land so thatSilesia can diversify into new industries and take fulladvantage of EU funds while at the same time having ahealthy and profitable coal industry.
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