The Polish Ministry of Industry has unveiled a wide-ranging action plan to secure the sustainable development of the national steel industry, targeting major challenges including competitiveness, energy costs, environmental compliance, and decarbonization.
Recognizing the steel sector as a key pillar of Poland’s industrial base, the plan lays out both domestic and EU-level strategies to support the industry during a period of critical transition.
A central concern is Poland’s coal-heavy energy mix, which results in elevated production costs and places domestic steelmakers at a disadvantage compared to international rivals. To address this, Poland will reform its energy cost compensation system, introducing shorter disbursement timelines and advance payments for energy-intensive industries, including steel.
The plan also includes:
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Enhanced support for renewable energy development
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Promotion of energy management systems to allow more flexible, cost-efficient energy usage in steel plants
To support technological innovation and decarbonization, the government will establish a dedicated R&D fund for the metallurgy sector. This fund will back low-carbon technology projects, with an emphasis on:
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Climate-aligned digitization
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Process optimization
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Emissions reduction
To improve the supply chain for electric arc furnace (EAF) production, the government is considering exempting steel scrap from the SENT system—a transport monitoring measure currently applied to sensitive goods. The plan notes that SENT has deterred suppliers and raised costs, weakening domestic mills’ ability to compete with producers in countries not burdened by similar red tape.
At the European level, Poland will advocate for:
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Modernized trade protection measures
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New comprehensive tariff systems to replace expiring safeguards
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Reinforced implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to prevent carbon leakage and ensure a level playing field in global trade
The initiative marks a proactive step by Poland to balance industrial growth with environmental responsibilities, setting a long-term vision for a resilient, competitive, and climate-aligned steel industry.
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