Polish Briefing: Greenpeace slams the campaign on high energy prices | Orlen wants to create a company that will build SMRs in Poland

What goes on in Poland on the 17th of February.

Greenpeace slams the campaign on increase in energy prices

The Greenpeace organization modified one of the advertising materials of the Polish Power Plants Economic Society, which states that high energy prices in Poland result from the climate policy of the European Union. Activists posted a slogan there: “coal = expensive energy, high prices.” Poland still produces about 70 percent of its energy from coal which is the most emissive and therefore carries the highest costs under the EU climate policy.

– Energy companies have prepared a shameful campaign aimed at slandering the European Union’s climate policy. This campaign, for which as much as PLN 12 million was paid, was to divert attention from the mistakes and omissions of the government and energy companies in the field of energy transition and blame the EU. In fact, it is the insistence on coal energy that makes it necessary to pay for CO2 emissions. If the energy came from renewable energy sources, the costs of emissions would not matter, said Joanna Flisowska, head of the climate and energy department at Greenpeace.

Orlen wants to create a company that will build SMR in Poland

PKN Orlen has submitted an application to the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) for consent to the establishment of the joint venture Orlen Synthos Green Energy, which is to be responsible for the preparation and commercialization of micro and small nuclear reactor technology in Poland.

– Our goal is to implement one of the most effective, cheapest and safe energy generation technologies and to build the first small reactor in our country in this decade. Establishing a new company with which we will do so will bring us closer to achieving our strategic goal – building a low-carbon and innovative energy segment. At Orlen Synthos Green Energy, we will use the competences, skills and experience of people who already work in the Orlen Group, know our strategy and know that it is crucial for us to use the potential of the Polish economy and domestic suppliers – says Daniel Obajtek, CEO of PKN Orlen.