Greenpeace appeals against extension of mining at Czechia's Bílina mine

Greenpeace has appealed against a decision allowing mining at the Bílina mine in the Teplice area to continue until 2035. The organization announced the appeal in a press release today. In March, the District Mining Authority in Most issued Severočeské doly, a company controlled by the ČEZ Group, a permit to mine for five years longer than previously allowed. Greenpeace says the decision lacks a follow-up, meaningful plan for reclaiming the area after mining, as well as an assessment of the negative climate impact of burning Bílina coal.

Greenpeace says the mining authority’s decision contains errors. Although mining is due to end in 2035, the approved reclamation plan, according to the organization, assumes mining will continue for longer and over a larger area, with reclamation not taking place until 2055. The organization believes that, based on a project permitted in this way, the mining company could claim to have a legitimate expectation of continuing to mine from 2035 to 2055 and demand compensation from the state for mining that does not take place. „Mining companies in Germany make similar arguments and receive financial compensation worth several billion euros for closing mines early,“ the organization said.