Obajtek Forces Entry into Solino Salt Mine Amid Standoff with Management

Former Orlen CEO and current MEP Daniel Obajtek forced his way into the Inowrocław Salt Mine headquarters on Thursday, clashing with the company’s leadership during an ongoing employee protest.

Confrontation at the Facility

Daniel Obajtek arrived at the Solino headquarters, where a worker protest has been underway since March, to present a letter requesting a formal inspection. Company president Wojciech Kotlarek refused to grant entry, noting that as an MEP, Obajtek lacks the legal authority granted to members of the Polish Parliament or Senate.

Despite being told he had no right to enter, Obajtek ignored the directive, declared that he was entering the facility by force, and crawled under a barrier. As Kotlarek attempted to physically block him, a scuffle ensued, with the company president pushing the politician toward the exit while awaiting police intervention. Obajtek eventually left the premises after being informed by officers that management did not authorize his entry.

Ongoing Labor and Strategic Disputes

The Solino company, a subsidiary of the Orlen Group, operates salt mines in Góra and Mogilno, which serve as vital storage hubs for Poland’s crude oil and fuel reserves. Since mid-March, employees have maintained a rotating hunger strike organized by the NSZZ Solidarność trade union.

Protesters claim the state is neglecting the national soda and salt complex, warning of technological degradation and risks to industrial safety. They have called for government programs to secure strategic assets and the construction of a new salt processing plant.

Government Position on Operations

In response to legislative inquiries in April, Minister of State Assets Wojciech Balczun maintained that Orlen has no plans to limit Solino’s operations. The ministry asserted that management is focused on modernizing infrastructure and ensuring the facility remains a critical operator for national energy security.

Official statements emphasize that employment remains stable at nearly 250 positions. Furthermore, the government maintains that no decisions to restrict activity at Solino S.A. have been made for the 2024–2026 period, citing planned investments to strengthen the site’s operational readiness.