ČSA mine: the first major test of the state's new land reclamation and energy policy

The Czechoslovak Army (ČSA) mine in the Most region was, for decades, one of the Czech Republic's most significant large-scale lignite mines. Thanks to the coal's high calorific value and its strategic location, it was a key fuel source for both power generation and district heating. However, following the end of mining, the ČSA mine did not become a “classic” land reclamation project modelled on the patterns of past decades. Instead, it has become a pilot area where ecological restoration, energy use and managed public access are being combined on a large scale for the first time.

This change was brought about by Czech Government Resolution No. 479 of 28 June 2023, which approved a new concept for the use of the post-mining area. The resolution followed previous government decisions on the future of coal regions, including Czech Government Resolution No. 421 of 17 June 2019. Rather than technical reclamation and artificial flooding of the mine, an approach based on natural succession, biodiversity protection and selective infrastructure development was chosen.