Polish energy adviser: Keep using coal for energy

WARSAW, Poland (AP) - An adviser to the Polish government says the country should keep using its coal for decades to come, despite a European Union policy of replacing the polluting fossil fuel with cleaner sources.

Krzysztof Zmijewski, an expert on carbon gas emissions, said Wednesday that as global demand for energy rises, Poland should continue to use coal, a resource it has plenty of, though the technology needs to be cleaner to reduce carbon emissions.

Poland is seeking new, clean sources of energy, in line with EU policies to reduce carbon emissions and to cut dependence on oil and gas imports from Russia.

However, exploration for shale gas is at an early stage, and Poland's first nuclear plant would not open before 2024. Wind and solar energy are not expected to be enough.