Coking coal remains on EU critical raw materials list after Polish pressure

(EurActiv, 20 Mar 2023) Coking coal will stay on the EU list of critical raw materials after Poland, a key producer, succeeded in persuading the European Commission to keep it there.

The updated list was published last week as part of the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, presented by the European Commission on Thursday (16 March).

Of key importance to Poland, coking coal serves the production of steel used, among other things, in wind turbines.

Polish company Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa S.A. is the EU’s largest producer of that material in the European Union.

“We succeeded! Coking coal (will remain) a raw material in the European Union. I am pleased that the European Commission again acceded to my appeal – especially when we cut off Russian energy sources and are accelerating the green transition,” tweeted  Jerzy Buzek, a former European Parliament President and currently MEP from the opposition Civic Coalition (PO, EPP).

The Commission’s decision to allow coking coal to remain on the list will facilitate gaining EU funds for future investments connected to coking coal and creating jobs, said Buzek.

Coking coal is essential for Poland’s steel industry. At the same time, steel is needed for the building of wind turbines, solar panels and the development of the railway industry, the MEP added, quoted by Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.

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EurActiv, 20 Mar 2023: Coking coal remains on EU critical raw materials list after Polish pressure