Despite loud criticism of the Turów mine from Germany and the Czech Republic, Germany remains the largest producer of lignite in the European Union and continues to expand its open-pit mines, especially in the territories of the former East Germany. Poland, under the government of Donald Tusk, is systematically reducing extraction, which critics describe as implementing Germany’s Energiewende under Polish conditions.
The government of Donald Tusk continues a policy of gradually phasing out lignite-based energy which in practice means no new mining fields and an accelerated contraction of existing complexes. In 2025, Poland produced approximately 40-43.5 million tonnes of lignite from four major open-pit mines. The largest of these, Bełchatów, dominates domestic output (around 73%), but its main field will cease operations in 2026, while another (Szczerców) is expected to operate until 2038. The Turów mine produces 7-10 million tonnes annually and, despite legal disputes and a Court of Justice of the EU fine of €68.5 million, continues to operate, though without plans for major expansion.
The situation looks entirely different on the German side of the border
Germany extracts significantly more, estimated at 100-170 million tonnes annually (depending on the source and year), making it the undisputed EU leader. The largest basin is located in the former East Germany, Lusatia (Lausitz) in Brandenburg and Saxony, where several large complexes operate, including those owned by LEAG (Lausitz Energie). Mines such as Nochten are being expanded in 2025-2026, and in Saxony entire villages (e.g., Mühlrose) are being razed to make way for further extraction. Plans assume the extraction of around 150 million tonnes of lignite from beneath the village, mainly for the Boxberg power plant, until 2038. In the west (Rhineland), RWE’s open-pit mines such as Garzweiler and Hambach remain in operation.
German Double Standards
Critics highlight what they see as clear double standards: Germany and the Czech Republic strongly criticize Turów for its impact on groundwater and the environment, while at the same time massively extracting and burning lignite themselves. The German company LEAG has ties to the Czech EPH group, which fuels local suspicions that pressure to shut down the Polish mine may serve to promote sales of their own coal. In 2025, Germany even had to reactivate additional coal-fired units due to weak renewable energy generation, illustrating how dependent it still is on lignite for energy security.
Poland Under Tusk
Poland is not opening new mining fields (no plans for Ościsłowo or Złoczew), which accelerates the transition but also increases dependence on energy imports and raises the risk of capacity gaps. Turów remains in operation (with a concession formally valid until 2044, though the realistic horizon is closer to 2030-2035), but without dynamic development. At the same time, Germany not only maintains production but is actively expanding it where economically viable.
The Outcome
Poland is moving away from lignite faster than Germany, which simultaneously promotes the EU Green Deal and criticizes its neighbors for “dirty” energy. For residents of regions such as Bogatynia or Bełchatów, this translates into a real risk of job losses without adequate alternatives.