Coal industry in Czech Republic

Abstract

Coal reserved in Czech Republic are estimated to be 10 billion tones – bituminous coal about 37%, brown coal about 60% and lignite 3%. Bituminous coal is produced in Northern Moravia – in 2017 production of bituminous coal was 5.5 milion tons. Brown coal is mined in Nord-Wester Bohemia − production of brown coal in 2017 was 38.1 milion tons. Significant quantities of bituminous coal are exported to Slovakia, Austria, Germany and Hungary. In accordance with the National Energy Policy, coal will remain the main source of energy in the country in the future, despite the increased use of nuclear energy and natural gas. The government expects that in 2030 energy from coal will account for 30.5% of energy produced. There are five coal companies in the Czech Republic: OKD, a.s., the only bituminous coal producer and four brown coal mining companies: Severočeské doly a.s., owned by ČEZ, the largest producer of brown coal, Vršanská uhelná a.s., with coal resources until 2055, Severní energetická a.s. with the largest brown coal reserves in the Czech Republic and Sokolovska uhelná a.s., the smallest mining company extracting lignite. OKD operates coal in two mines Důlní závod 1 – (consists of three mines: ČSA Mine, Lazy Mine, Darkov Mine) and Mine Důlní závod 2 (two mines Sever, Jih). The article also presents a pro-ecological solution for the management of waste heaps after coal enrichment - a plant for the enrichment of coal waste from the Heřmanice heap.