F&D: How quickly and to what extent can Poland free itself from dependence on coal, which generates about 70 percent of its electricity?
NAIMSKI: We still have coal as a necessity for the next 20, 30 years. But as we phase out coal, we need baseload production of energy just to balance renewables. Because renewables themselves are not enough.
We’ll be phasing out coal very carefully, still keeping in mind the security of energy supply. And also, I really believe that technologies connected with chemical processing of coal toward liquid fuels and toward others—that this will, with time, occur probably effectively.
F&D: Will Europe have to change its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050?
NAIMSKI: The decarbonization strategy accepted on the EU level probably will be discussed once again. This is possible and probably necessary. They could introduce some amendments, and some commonsense approach should be added to this.
F&D: Is it possible to have a single energy strategy encompassing all of Europe?
NAIMSKI: Some practical approaches are necessary to accept differences in national strategies. Because the situation is different in Poland, and different in Germany, different in France. It’s not possible to have one plan for all European states.
It’s very clearly said, in the European treaties, that energy is the responsibility of the member states’ governments rather than European policies. But the European Commission tries to go beyond treaties. And this is the area where we will have hard discussions.
F&D: What is the outlook for nuclear energy in Poland?
NAIMSKI: We expect to have a first operational nuclear unit in Poland by 2033. In 20 years we would like to have six of them. And by the mid-’40s, we will have about a quarter of our energy from nuclear. Twenty-five percent of baseload production would allow us to include much more renewable energy in the mix.
F&D: Is there a political consensus in Poland in support of nuclear energy?
NAIMSKI: We do have very deep political divisions in Poland. But we don’t have a dispute over nuclear energy.
F&D: Do you see the goals of decarbonization and energy security as being compatible, or not?
NAIMSKI: It could be that the security of supplies will be on a necessary level and smoothly follow this decarbonization path. But it’s a question of tactics. We shouldn’t phase out coal too fast.
F&D: Most existing gas pipelines run east to west. You have talked often about the need for north-south pipelines. What is the rationale?
NAIMSKI: This is important because, if we want to really diversify our sources and means of transportation for central Europe, we have to construct transmission lines completely differently from what was executed by Russian—or Russia-dependent—institutions, governments, or economies.
This is why we are commissioning a pipeline interconnected between Poland and Slovakia. And the Slovaks, they have already interconnected with Hungary, and they have plans to finally complete a link with the Romanian system. And actually, this idea of linking Świnoujście [on Poland’s Baltic Coast] with Krk Island [on the coast of Croatia] was the basis for these north-south gas transmission strategies. The Baltic Pipe is part of this new possibility.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.