Article author:
Associated Press
Prague (AP) — The Czech Republic has the opposite plan The is to stop mining in major black coal areas to help the country protect its power supply in the high demand and energy crisis caused by the Russian war in Ukraine.
Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura announced Thursday that state-owned OKD companies will extend mining activities in the northeastern Czech Republic at least until the end of next year. The original plan required that mining be stopped there this year, but "the demand for black charcoal is enormous," said Standura.
Several other European Union countries are returning to coal as an alternative to Russia's declining natural gas supply, threatening Europe's climate goals. Russia has reduced gas flows to EU countries such as Germany, Italy and Austria, in addition to gas cutoffs to France, Poland, Bulgaria and more.
OKD CEO Roman Sikora said the Czech company plans to mine 1.3 million metric tons of black charcoal in 2023.
Mainly used for power generation and home heating. Coal-fired power plants produce almost 50% of the Czech total electricity output.
The decision came after the European Union agreed to ban Russia's coal from August over the war in Ukraine, and because it works to reduce the block's energy relations with Russia. It was done in.
The Czech government aims to phase out coal in energy production by 2033, while increasing the country's reliance on nuclear power.
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