The Czech Republic has received a new proposal from Poland on the settlement of a dispute over the Turow lignite mine near their border but the new draft is unacceptable, the Czech Environment Ministry said on Tuesday.
The two European Union neighbours have been locked in a dispute over Poland's extension of mining at Turow, which feeds an adjacent power plant important to Polish energy supply.
The Czech Republic says mining leads to loss of underground water in towns on the Czech side and causes other pollution.
The European Union's top court told Poland to halt operations at the mine and power plant after Prague complained of the environmental damage on its side.
Poland, which has not complied with the court's order, has been trying to reach an agreement with its neighbour to keep the mine open in return for taking steps to limit the water loss and provide compensation.
Poland's Climate Minister Anna Moskwa informed on Monday about inviting the Czech Republic to urgent resumption of talks over the Turów coal mine. Moskwa also said she has sent a new settlement offer to her Czech counterpart Richard Brabec.
The Czech side dismissed the offer as unacceptable. The ministry said it would have to discuss the proposal with the incoming government being formed following last month's Czech election before any further steps can be taken.
"(The new proposal) is unacceptable for the current leadership of the Environment Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the Liberec region which neighbours Turow," the environment ministry spokeswoman said in a tweet.
The Czech ministry said it would have to discuss the proposal with the incoming government being formed following last month's election before any further steps can be taken.
"Given the political situation, the proposal will have to be debated on the Czech side with representatives of the parties in the new government which is being formed, only after that the Czech Republic will be able to take further steps."
A Czech five-party, centre-right coalition that won a majority in last month's election is expected to take over government in the coming weeks.
The main sticking point in previous talks over Turów was a Czech demand over the duration of any agreement.
Poland signs COP26 agreement
Poland and other nations pledged last week to phase out their use of coal-fired power and stop building plants, a deal the COP26 climate summit host Britain described as putting the end of the fuel "in sight."
Coal is the most polluting fossil fuel and greenhouse gas emissions from burning it are the single biggest contributor to climate change. Weaning the world off coal is considered vital to achieving globally agreed climate targets.
The commitments are not binding, and some of the signatories have said they will not be able to phase out coal without sufficient financial help from other countries.
A spokesman for the Polish government said the country's commitment would see it end coal use in the 2040s. While climate campaigners called the move a step forward, they said the non-binding pledge would need to be backed up by firm policies. The deal's fine print commits to phasing out coal power generation, but not to ending financing for new plants.
Cheap, abundant and local supplies mean the fuel dominates power production in countries including Poland, India and South Africa, which will require huge investments to shift their industries and energy sectors to cleaner sources.
In certain cities of Poland people have been wearing masks to protect them from the levels of pollution in the air for years.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, TVN24 Biznes, Reuters
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: Shutterstock