Severní energetická suspends mining at Czechia's ČSA mine and will lay off around 500 people

Severní energetická is suspending brown coal mining at the ČSA mine in the Most area. It will lay off around 500 employees. A decision on ending operations will be made in the coming months. Eva Maříková, spokesperson for the Sev.en Česká energie group, told ČTK. The company will announce details today.

Miners had expected the ČSA mine to close between 2024-2026. Mining at the ČSA mine has been gradually scaled back since 2015, when the government decided to maintain the mining limits in the area. If a need for coal to generate electricity or heat arises during the winter, the company is prepared to partially resume operations, using employees from the group's other active mine.

Mining will be brought to an orderly end over the next few months. The company will lay off 485 employees between May and July. Employees in roles such as operations fitter, electrician, driver, mechanic and other technical positions will be let go.

The remaining pit will be transformed into a lake with a so-called balanced water level, meaning it would not need to be topped up. According to published plans, the lake could cover around 670 hectares (roughly twice the size of nearby Lake Most). A balanced water level means that inflows and evaporation would be in equilibrium. The lake will be used partly for recreation, but primarily for the energy sector. The miners plan to install floating solar panels on part of the water's surface, along with a green hydrogen production plant. The entire area, dominated by Jezeří Castle, covers 5000 hectares. Experts recommend leaving around 20 percent entirely to nature, to develop on its own through so-called succession. Part of the area is to become a national natural monument,