With Poland set to remain heavily reliant on coal for energy, the state-controlled PGE utility is aiming to extend until 2044 its license to mine in Turow, due to expire in March. The move has spawned a rare diplomatic dispute with the Czech government, a longtime ally. The plant ranked as the 19th biggest carbon dioxide emitter in the EU last year and as the 10th-worst coal EU plant for its impact on human health in 2017, according to the Europe Beyond Coal environmental group. The rest is sold to households and businesses, contributing to a thick smog in the nearby Polish town of Bogatynia. Pavel Farsky, deputy mayor in the town Hradek nad Nisou, said it’s unlikely that the Polish would address the Czech concerns.

Source: ABC News December 06, 2019 12:40 UTC