Poland defies EU court by refusing to close major brown coalmine

Shutting Turow lignite mine would cause thousands of job losses, says development minister

Poland's government has defied an injunction by the top European Union court that ordered the immediate closure of a major brown coalmine, with officials saying it would shake the nation's energy system and lead to the loss of thousands of jobs.

The country's development minister, Jarosaw 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 7% of Polands energy.