November 19, 2019 - Poland's prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki signaled Tuesday his government's determination to develop renewables while simultaneously defending the country's right to burn coal for years to come.

In a major policy speech to the Polish parliament setting out his government's priorities for a second term, Morawiecki said he would appoint a government adviser for renewable energy, develop offshore wind and solar photovoltaics, and build the country's first nuclear reactors.

Conventional generation, however, must be respected, he said.

We have to have secure power supplies," he said. "Our pro-climate transformation must be safe and beneficial for Poland."

Coal-fired generation would remain important for a long time but the reality was changing, he said.

"There was a time when we were unable to develop renewables, now we cannot afford not to develop them. They also give a powerful impetus for Polish industry," he said.

In a draft Energy Policy to 2040 document, the government sets itself the goal of building up to 4 GW of nuclear capacity by 2040, with a first reactor online in 2033.

The draft is undergoing consultation and is yet to be approved by Morawiecki's government.

On Monday, the government's adviser on strategic energy infrastructure, Piotr Naimski, told a US-Polish nuclear power conference in Warsaw he hoped a nuclear financing plan could be agreed within the coming months.

Morawiecki criticized EU climate policy for creating new jobs outside the EU.

"The carbon footprint, tax regulations and the prevention of carbon leakage must support the Polish energy sector and its transformation," he said.

Following his party's election victory in October, Morawiecki has decided to abolish the energy ministry.

Climate policy and regulation are to be the responsibility of a new Climate Ministry.

Mining and state-controlled utilities are to come under the aegis of the Ministry of State Assets.

This body will be part of the revived State Treasury ministry, abolished four years ago to make way for the then new Energy Ministry.