PKP CARGO Files Criminal Complaint Against Former Minister Over Coal Transport Decision

PKP CARGO, currently undergoing restructuring, has filed a criminal complaint against former Minister of State Assets, Jacek Sasin.

The complaint, submitted to the District Prosecutor's Office in Warsaw on September 4, 2024, alleges that Sasin failed to fulfill his official duties, causing harm to PKP CARGO by not signing an agreement that would have regulated the implementation of the so-called Coal Decision.

The Coal Decision, initiated by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in 2022, directed PKP CARGO to prioritize the transport of coal from Baltic ports to Polish energy companies. The decision was made in response to an embargo on Russian coal, requiring emergency imports of the raw material. PKP CARGO claims that Sasin was obligated to formalize an agreement to oversee the execution of this decision, ensuring that the company’s actions were aligned with the public interest and that funds were spent efficiently.

Dr. Marcin Wojewódka, Acting President of PKP CARGO SA, commented, "Our company's coal ships were directed to Baltic ports at the cost of abandoning other, more profitable orders. This decision led to a significant loss of revenue and damaged our relationships with customers, consequences that we are still dealing with today."

By failing to formalize the agreement, the Minister of State Assets allegedly undermined the financial stability of PKP CARGO, a company often referred to as Poland’s national carrier and a critical component of the national economic framework.

An investigation into the Coal Decision was initiated by the District Prosecutor's Office on August 1, 2024, focusing on the actions of those managing PKP CARGO from July 2022 to July 2023. The case, now being handled by the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA) in Warsaw, aims to determine the extent of the damage caused by the decision and the failure to fulfill governmental obligations.

Source: PKP CARGO