Prague – Coal mining in the Czech Republic continues to decline significantly this year. By the end of August, a total of 15.3 million tons of brown and hard coal were mined in the country, which is a fifth less year-on-year. Production was traditionally mainly driven by brown coal mining, which accounted for 95 percent of the mined mineral. Coke production also decreased. It follows from statistics Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO).
This continues the decline in mining from last year, when the amount of mined minerals decreased by 15 percent compared to 2022. However, the year before last was greatly influenced by the energy crisis and the greater use of coal in power plants. This year, the gradual decline in mining, which is related to the government’s plan to move away from burning coal in power plants and heating plants after 2030, is accelerating.
In the first eight months of the year, miners produced 809,000 tons of black coal, which already makes up only a small part of the total mining in the Czech Republic. That was almost ten percent less year-on-year. The vast majority, namely 445,000 tons, was coal intended for energy purposes. More than 364,000 tons of coking coal, which can be used for the production of coke and subsequently, for example, for the production of pig iron, were produced.
Currently, the last active mine in the Czech Republic remains in operation – ČSM in Karvinsk. It was originally supposed to operate only until the middle of 2023, but according to the current plans of the state-owned company OKD, mining should continue until approximately the middle of 2026.
Along with the decline in hard coal mining, coke production also fell. By the end of August, it amounted to 952,000 tons, which was almost 30 percent less than last year.
More than 14.5 million tons of brown coal have been mined so far, 20 percent less year-on-year. The vast majority was used as industrial coal. The key brown coal deposits are in the Czech Republic in Podkrušnohoří, around Most, Chomutov and Teplice. The most important locations are the ČSA and Bílina quarries. Lignite mining also continues in Sokolovska.
CR coal
Source: www.ceskenoviny.cz
