Energy price shocks in Poland and record profits for Samsung

In Poland, natural gas prices have doubled compared to last year, exceeding 300 PLN per megawatt-hour. According to an analysis by the Instrat Foundation, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and infrastructure damage in Qatar have triggered a second major price shock within five years. The report warns that Poland's reliance on gas for peak electricity demand will increase through 2030 due to electrification and slow wind energy development.

To mitigate these risks, the Foundation suggests accelerating the development of renewable energy sources (RES) and energy storage. Such an approach could save approximately 14 billion PLN annually during extreme crises and reduce gas imports by about 1.8 billion cubic meters by 2035.

Separately, Samsung has reported record-breaking financial results for the second quarter of 2026, with revenues reaching 171.5 trillion KRW and operating profits hitting 89.49 trillion KRW. This surge is driven by high memory chip prices. The company forecasts even stronger results for the third quarter of 2026. However, the company faces challenges in other sectors, including reports that its System LSI division may cease production of Exynos Auto processors due to competition from Qualcomm.