What was supposed to be the ceremonial launch of one of the largest port investments in Poland’s history has instead been overshadowed by documents published by former Maritime Economy Minister Marek Gróbarczyk, raising questions about the project’s financing.
According to a letter from the Ministry of Finance, more than PLN 1.6 billion originally earmarked for the program was redirected to other purposes, while the ministry, led by Andrzej Domański, opposed increasing the project’s spending limits. Despite this, Donald Tusk’s government announced on Monday the launch of the Cape Pomerania investment, although in practice only the construction of a technical access road leading to the future terminal has begun.
On Monday, Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak, together with ministry officials, inaugurated the implementation of the Cape Pomerania project in Świnoujście. During a press conference, he stated:
“We are starting with the construction of the technical road. This is the physical beginning of this mega-investment, which Poland’s maritime economy has been waiting for.”
The Ministry of Infrastructure also wrote on social media:
“Implementation of the Cape Pomerania Project is beginning—the largest investment in the more than 75-year history of the Szczecin and Świnoujście Seaports Authority.”
According to government plans, the terminal is expected to become operational between 2029 and 2030, with the total value of the project estimated at approximately PLN 10 billion.
Gróbarczyk releases documents: “PLN 1.6 billion has disappeared”
Several dozen minutes later, former Minister of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation Marek Gróbarczyk published Ministry of Finance documents on X, claiming that more than PLN 1.5 billion had effectively vanished.
“I REVEAL! Ministry of Finance documents show that PLN 1.6 billion allocated for the Container Terminal in Świnoujście has disappeared! The Ministry of Infrastructure is demanding more than PLN 7 billion that Tusk’s government does not have! Where did this money go???”
The Law and Justice (PiS) politician also announced:
“I am submitting a notification to the Supreme Audit Office (NIK). Cape Pomerania does not have secured financing.”
He added:
“This is simply misleading the Polish public. Tusk did not obtain approval to build the Container Terminal. He was only allowed to construct the technical access road. Even Tusk has every reason to be embarrassed!”
Finance ministry document: “More than PLN 1.6 billion was allocated to other needs”
In another post, Gróbarczyk published a letter from the Ministry of Finance dated April 30, 2026. The document was signed on behalf of the finance minister by Deputy Finance Minister Jurand Drop.
The ministry states that the project has faced difficulties since the very beginning of its implementation.
The document reads:
“In the case of the Świnoujście program, this is additionally evidenced by expenditure freezes totaling nearly PLN 355 million imposed since the beginning of the program, as well as the very low level of spending, amounting to less than PLN 2.5 million during the years 2023–2025.”
An even stronger passage concerns the funds originally allocated to the investment. The Ministry of Finance wrote:
“Moreover, the resulting difference exceeding PLN 1.6 billion was allocated by the spending authority to other needs of the Minister of Infrastructure. Therefore, the project sponsor’s current request to increase the expenditure limit by this amount cannot be accepted.”
Finance ministry opposes higher spending limits
The documents also indicate that the Ministry of Finance rejected a proposal to increase the project’s expenditure ceilings.
The letter states:
“The proposed amendments assume an increase in the expenditure limit for budget section 21 in the years 2027–2029, which the Ministry of Finance opposes.”
The authors argue that such a solution would increase state budget spending, widen the budget deficit, and raise public debt servicing costs.
The ministry’s objections did not end there. The letter also notes:
“There are doubts as to whether the program can realistically be completed by 2029, meaning completion within just four years (…).”
The Ministry of Finance further pointed out that the Ministry of Infrastructure had failed to identify any sources of savings that would make the requested increase in financing possible.
“No information regarding such savings has been included in the documents accompanying the proposed update of the Świnoujście program.”
Following the publication of the documents, Marek Gróbarczyk announced that he would submit a formal notification to the Supreme Audit Office (NIK).