Poland's energy giant defies EU court ruling to close mine

WARSAW: Officials in Poland on Monday defied an injunction by the top European Union court that ordered the immediate closure of a major brown coal mine, saying it would shake the nation's energy system and lead to the layoff of thousands of employees.

Development Minister Jaroslaw Gowin said Poland would not shut the lignite mine in Turow, on the border with Germany and The Czech Republic, but instead was engaged in "very intensive diplomatic and law-related efforts," to secure undisturbed operation of the mine and connected power plant that generates some 7 per cent of Poland's energy.

The EU's Court of Justice on Friday ordered Poland to immediately stop operation of the mine, heeding Prague's complaints that it drained groundwaters from Czech territory. It is a temporary measure, pending the court's full ruling.