ISSN 2543–7321

Uniwersytet Pomorski w Słupsku

Przyjęto: 31.12.2024

Zaakceptowano: 31.12.2024

Oryginalna praca badawcza

DOI: 10.34858/SNB.9.2024.009

STUDIA NAD BEZPIECZEŃSTWEM

Nr 9 s. 147–160 2024

Krzysztof Jurek

University of Economics in Cracow

e-mail: krzysztofjurek1@onet.pl



ENERGY SECURITY OF POLAND IN THE FACE OF

DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL THREATS: CURRENT SITUATION,

CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PROSPECTS IN THE CONTEXT

OF THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR

BEZPIECZEŃSTWO ENERGETYCZNE POLSKI W OBLICZU

ZAGROŻEŃ KRAJOWYCH I GLOBALNYCH: OBECNA

SYTUACJA, WYZWANIA ORAZ PERSPEKTYWY NA

PRZYSZŁOŚĆ W KONTEKŚCIE WOJNY ROSYJSKO-

-UKRAIŃSKIEJ

Abstract: Energy security is a key element in the stability of states, and its impor-

tance has become particularly apparent in the context of the crisis caused by the



ensuring stable and secure energy supplies, particularly natural gas, in the face of the

changing geopolitical situation. It also analyses energy transition processes, includ-

ing the shift from hydrocarbons to renewable energy sources (RES), which are part

-

sions. The article also outlines the impact of key international players, such as the

-



are posed by the decarbonisation of the energy sector. The study, based on case study,

forecasting and comparison methods, shows that a full consideration of all factors



Krzysztof Jurek

-

ing the urgent need to diversify energy sources, become independent of energy

resources from Russia and accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources.



and foreign authors was used to conduct the study.

Zarys treści:      -

-

      





-







        



         



   -

        -



-

-

-

      

        

i zagranicznych.

Keywords:       

challenges.

Słowa kluczowe    -



148

Energy Security of Poland in the Face of Domestic and Global Threats

Introduction



century, energy security was one of the main strategic objectives of states.

Decision-makers in charge of energy policy used both domestic raw materi-

al resources and energy generation technologies to ensure state sovereignty.

Lack of access to or acquisition of stable sources of raw materials led to prob-

lems with the functioning of state infrastructure, weakening their position

internationally and domestically. Throughout the history of the 20th and be-

ginning of the 21st centuries, there have been instances where states have

used energy resources as a political tool to obtain concessions from weaker









          -

land was dependent on a single supplier of oil and natural gas, which posed

a threat to the stability of its economy. In addition, the country has become

dependent on imported hard coal, mainly due to a lack of investment in the

coal sector and rising production costs. The decarbonisation process, aimed



important factor in this context. Energy raw materials, such as gas and oil,







more than half of the gas for consumption came from domestic deposits, this

-

       

-

frastructure. For many years this was based mainly on hard coal and lignite.

Over time, new developments have emerged, allowing the production of en-

ergy from renewable energy sources (RES) and from gas, which has become

a raw material used for heat, electricity and also as a vehicle fuel. However,

the transformation of the energy sector has not yet progressed enough to sig-



the commitments made by many countries in this regard are becoming more

149

Krzysztof Jurek

and more realistic, they still remain a challenge that will have to be met in the

near future, compared to the situation in the 1990s.



The current state of research in security sciences and energy security

The goal of any authority, at all levels and in almost every institution, is to pro-

vide security to a degree that meets public expectations. These expectations are

both objective and subjective in nature. In the case of the objective aspect, au-

thorities and institutions can more easily identify problems and take corrective

action using the tools and mechanisms available. In the subjective context, on

the other hand, it becomes crucial to manage image, to present phenomena and

events appropriately and to work on changing public perception and awareness





norms. In some developed countries, there are still places where customary law,

elements of feudalism or local traditions are more important than legal norms

and generally accepted rules of conduct, which are obvious to elites but not nec-

-

ment of technology and changes in consciousness, society, identity and civilisa-







In an era in which respect

for human rights and the protection of the environment are becoming priorities

for many states, security theorists increasingly refer to the theory that the most

important element of security is the pursuit of individual, societal or state sur-





relevant today. Expanding on this thought, it is worth pointing out that, both in

the past and in the present, there is a constant struggle to ensure survival, which

takes various forms. Often it is a competition regulated by legal and moral norms,



-



Paliwo przyszłości



 Książę. Rozważania nad pierwszym dziesięcioksięgiem historii Rzymu Li-

wiusza



Energy Security of Poland in the Face of Domestic and Global Threats





someone or something, it meant exercising control over them. Cicero, a well-

known speaker and philosopher, played an important role in the consideration

of war and peace. He addressed the nature of peace and the atrocities associated

with war, advocating peaceful solutions based on compromise and consensus.

At the time, security was linked to the dilemmas of war and peace, and in the

Middle Ages mystical and religious elements were added to these considerations.



when writing about war, often referred to the fourth commandment of the Ten

     

individual possessed the energy and will to act, which could only be harnessed

in a state that upheld the social order and had the means to ensure individual and

societal happiness, freedom and security. He emphasised the importance of the

economy, legislation and fair and balanced internal relations in the state. Thomas

Morus and Thomas Campanella, on the other hand, focused on the problem of



a solution to this problem through the state, which, except in exceptional situ-

ations, should be the possessor of property to the fullest extent possible. The

1990s represented a breakthrough in the understanding of security issues, espe-

-





totalitarian rule in many countries and their transition to democratic or authori-

tarian systems. In response to these developments, the focus began to shift more

towards the individual and society, taking into account the subjective dimension

of security. The concept of societal security was introduced. Copenhagen re-

searchers pointed out that security issues cannot be analysed solely at the level of





-

ernment advisor, security is a basic existential need of both individuals and social

groups, as well as of states.





nature, which helps to answer the question of what security actually is. It also de-





A. Gdula, Wybrane historyczne i współczesne koncepcje bezpieczeństwa, “Doctrina. Stu-



 Po pierwsze bezpieczeństwo, “Rzeczpospolita”, 9.01.1996.



Krzysztof Jurek

the theories in practice. The scope of these areas is broad and may expand fur-

ther over time, as in the case of strategic culture, which encompasses a broader



that the research would address the strategic culture of organisations like ISIS or

al-Qaeda, and in the future may also include the activities of multinational cor-

porations, which would require adapting the tools and indicators used to analyse

the strategic culture of states.



In the 18th century, natural gas began to be used for street lighting in large

cities. In contrast, the massive use of oil in the 20th century revolutionised the

     

20th century, coal-powered cars set speed records, but a few years later, engines

economy. Countries with access to energy resources developed much faster and

had a stronger position on the international stage than those that had to rely on



situation is not expected to change dramatically by the end of the third decade

of the 21st century. Consequently, energy security, still largely based on hy-

drocarbons, is an important part of the strategic culture not only of states, but

also of transnational corporations whose budgets exceed those of many medi-

um-sized European states.



Energy security belongs to the category of public

goods, which are characterised by the fact that they serve the whole of society or

a particular local community. The consumption of such goods is egalitarian and

the use of these goods by one person does not restrict access to them by others.

 

ensuring energy security lies with the state authorities, which can use various

mechanisms and tools. These authorities may also delegate some responsibili-

ties to the private sector, but this does not relieve the state of its responsibility



C. Drozd, Kultura strategiczna – geneza, denicja i praktyczne zastosowanie, “Roczni-

        Thinking abo-

ut Strategic CultureRealism

versus Strategic Culture: Competition and Collaboration, “International Studies Review”



See J. de Vries, The Industrious Revolution: Consumer Behaviour and the Household

Economy – 1650 to the Present

C. A. Bayly, The Birth of the Modern World, 1780–1914: Global Connections and Com-

parisons         The British In-

dustrial Revolution in Global Perspective





Energy Security of Poland in the Face of Domestic and Global Threats

for the proper functioning of the energy sector.







such a state of the economy that ensures that the future demand of consumers

for fuels and energy is met in a manner that is both technically and economically





Poland’s energy resources



       

-

try in the EU that is able to cover its own needs in terms of the necessity to use



this regard is the depleting deposits of hard coal, which as an energy resource

is slowly being replaced by RES, nuclear energy and, as part of the transition

period declared by the EU necessary for the full modernisation of the energy



being exploited, but only the discovery of the deposit on geodetic maps. This



production. The situation is much better on the previously mentioned hard coal

market, although in this case too, in recent years, serious problems have aris-



costs of extraction, which are too high in relation to the price on world markets.

-

graded transmission infrastructure. Two key gas pipelines and one oil transport



an important transit hub for Russian energy resources. However, as a result of



     

Oil supplies are currently being delivered by tanker as a result of the sanctions



a price cap on Russian oil, which would apply to EU and G7 countries. In this

J. Braun, Bezpieczeństwo energetyczne jako dobro publiczne. Miary i czynniki wpływają-

ce na jego poziom-



 Bezpieczeństwo energetyczne



Krzysztof Jurek



to act as a transit state for oil and gas. This is a conscious political decision,

-



it is worth noting that they have been implemented by all previous governments,

which have tried to implement the goals contained in the energy strategy de-



-

dence from Russian supplies. As a result of the modernisation works carried out

and the expansion of the gas terminal, the capacity to obtain gas has increased

to 6.8 bcm per year. A further capacity increase of 0.7 bcm is planned for the

future. In addition, there are plans to build a new gas port on the Baltic Sea and



gas per year. Since the 1970s, an oil transmission infrastructure has been devel-

oping, initially built back in the communist era. This makes it possible to obtain



-

tic demand has been met, allows the export of surplus crude oil and petroleum

      

-

cantly expanded and the fuel distribution network has been extended to cover

not only the domestic market, but also the foreign market, especially in Central

and Eastern Europe.



From the perspective of rationalising processes in the en-

ergy sector, it will be crucial to include natural gas deposits in land-use planning,

which will enable their exploitation in the future, if not immediately. This belief

stems from the progressive improvement in gas extraction technology, making



  



the country is unable to achieve a higher output, and forecasts do not predict

a change in this trend in the near future.



   Gazociąg Baltic Pipe osiągnął pełną przepustowość  

-

Azerski gaz dla ukra-

ińskiego gazoportu  



  Zasoby gazu ziemnego w Polsce jako czynnik poprawiający bezpieczeństwo



Energy Security of Poland in the Face of Domestic and Global Threats

Energy sources of the future: current situation, work on their

implementation and prospects

In response to the growing problems associated with the use of fossil fuels,

many innovative solutions have emerged, some of which have already been

experimentally implemented. A common feature of fuels of the future is their



compared to traditional fossil fuels. One such fuel that is already partly be-







of this raw material annually, of which we sell almost 600 tonnes.



In the fu-



energy industry. Resources of this element on Earth are limited, but much larger

amounts are found on the Moon, where samples have already been experimen-













medicine and aviation. The most important thing, however, is that it can be

used as fuel in thermonuclear fusion reactions, which allows the production of

clean energy. Moreover, the process is zero-emission, and the only by-products

are Helium-4 and hydrogen, with no carbon dioxide emissions or radioactive

waste.





be solved by developing technology to transport this element from the Moon.





energetyczne na tle wybranych państw UE     



I. Trusewicz, Gazprom stawia na Hel  



Izotop z księżyca wywoła rewolucję w energetyce?





Krzysztof Jurek

The impact of the external environment and the situation of the

energy sector

The global network of economic connections, which is gaining strength ev-



to energy security. These strategies cannot be implemented in isolation from the

broader political and economic context. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlight-

ed how disruptions in supply chains or the absence of one important entity in





of a given country’s energy policy must take into account external factors that

-

es, are adapting their strategies, building them from scratch. Many factors are

crucial, while others have a more transitory impact, but they are virtually im-

possible to ignore in energy policy, both at global and regional levels. More and



global economy, including the energy sector, at the expense of traditional powers.

Countries that export energy resources use their dominant position to obtain po-

litical and economic concessions from countries that must import raw materials.

Therefore, their energy policy is not limited only to the sale of raw materials, and

there are no signs that this trend will change in the near future.



Membership in regional and international organisations means that countries

no longer have full control over the situation on national or transnational mar-

kets for energy raw materials. An example of this phenomenon is the situation

of the European Union, which is assessed both in terms of institutional and na-









impact was smaller due to better transport options. Financial mechanisms used

in contracts and transfers are also an important factor shaping the situation on the

global energy raw materials market, including the European market. An example

may be the impact of sanctions on the Russian energy sector, which on the one

hand slowed down the growth of export earnings, but on the other hand were



A. Grabowska, Dylematy energetyczne Federacji Rosyjskiej  -





Energy Security of Poland in the Face of Domestic and Global Threats

used by Russia to “newly open” the international raw materials market. After



-





-







directly from Russia or transported via the Russian transmission infrastructure.

The concept of developing the energy raw materials market in Europe, devel-





-

tries of Central and Eastern Europe, especially the Visegrad Group countries and



especially in Germany, France, Italy and Austria, there was a belief in the need

to maintain close energy relations with Russia, which resulted from attractive



energy policy was intended to create competition for the economic policies of

the US and China, which were based on higher prices of hydrocarbon raw mate-

rials than Russian prices.

       



energy raw materials market, in which Europe plays an important role, should

also be taken into account. Despite the ongoing transformation towards renew-

able energy sources, hydrocarbons remain the foundation of the economic power

of states and international institutions and are strongly linked to the interests of

individual countries. Unfortunately, the depletion of natural gas and crude oil re-

sources and the abandonment of Russian energy resources, or at least their signif-

icant reduction, may lead to greater dependence on the USA, which is becoming

a key supplier of hydrocarbons to Europe. It is important to note that while the

US is a strategic security partner, in the economic sphere it acts as a competitor

to the European Union, both on a general scale and in the context of nation-



resulting from the current situation on the Russian-Ukrainian front, may turn

out to be unfavourable not only for the European energy sector, but also for the



Krzysztof Jurek



American stock exchange and not based on global trends, which may lead to un-

favourable changes in the structure of trade in energy raw materials.

-

dent on Russian supplies of natural gas and crude oil, which played a dominant

-

ed, this dependence began to decrease, and after the outbreak of the Russian-

         -

porting natural gas directly from Russia since 2022, we still obtain crude oil,



are observing a noticeable decline in the amount of oil imported from Russia.



turned into a full-scale war in February 2022, continuing with varying intensity,

depending on the losses of both sides, the availability of weapons and weath-

-



also accelerated the process of abandoning Russian gas and oil in favour of other

sources of hydrocarbons, which has worsened the economic situation of many

European Union countries. As a result, the price structure is changing and Urals

oil has become cheaper than Brent oil, leading to an increase in illegal transac-











replace Russia in the supply of this key raw material for the energy sector. Even



would be necessary to accelerate the process of abandoning hard coal as the main

raw material for the production of heat and electricity.

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

Trusewicz I., Gazprom stawia na Hel  





Krzysztof Jurek

Summary

-



development of gas infrastructure. Despite limited domestic extraction of raw materials,

a key step towards increasing energy independence was accession to the European Union,

which enabled the development of gas connections with neighbours, including Germany,

      



imported gas remains a challenge. It is important to remember and continue to take into ac-

count that changes should also be undertaken through well-led participation and dialogue.





renewable sources and planning to introduce nuclear energy. However, this process is ham-

pered by the high costs of transformation and the need to reduce dependence on imported







through the development of energy infrastructure, international cooperation and invest-

ment in alternative energy sources, which will simultaneously reduce CO

emissions and

increase the country’s economic stability.







international cooperation to ensure the country’s energy stability. The conclusions from the

analysis indicate the need to continue activities to develop technology, diversify sources

of raw materials and adapt to changing geopolitical and economic realities, which will





sources of energy raw materials and building alternative gas supply routes. Disruptions

           



Consequently, the Ukrainian war highlighted the need to further energy transformation,

increase energy independence and strengthen cooperation with international partners to en-

sure energy stability.

 Dialog i partycypacja obywatelska na poziomie lokalnym na przykładzie mia-

sta Krakowa



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