Síkela prepares bill to ensure Czechia's gradual coal phase-out by 2033

Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela (STAN) wants to prepare a law by mid-2025 that will ensure a managed phase-out of coal in the energy sector by 2033. He said this today in a debate on Czech Television. The minister spoke about a managed phase-out in connection with a statement by Sev.en Energy owner Pavel Tykač that he is considering closing the Počerady and Chvaletice power plants and his two coal mines in spring 2025. According to Síkela, Czechia can manage the shutdown of the power plants.

The government of Petr Fiala (ODS) has long planned to end the use of coal for electricity generation by 2033. According to Síkela, it is now necessary to prepare a legislative proposal for the end of coal use and public support measures, which must be notified at the European level. “What I want to achieve (…) is a managed phase-out of coal based on legislating a final date for the phase-out,” Síkela said. He said previous governments had not addressed the issue. Karel Havlíček (ANO), Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and a former industry minister, disagreed.

Billionaire Tykač cited the lack of competitiveness of coal-fired sources as the reason for the possible closure of the power plants and mines. Síkela said that even in the worst-case scenario, in which Sev.en’s power plants were shut down, the Czech Republic could cope. “We are able to manage it, but what is missing is reserve capacity,” the minister said. If, for example, a unit at a nuclear power plant had to be taken offline for maintenance, a large amount of electricity would have to be imported, according to Síkela. He noted that Tykač’s announcement had been expected.

Síkela and Havlíček said it was also necessary to assess how shutting down the power plants would affect the stability of the transmission system and what impact closing the mines would have on district heating.

Tykač employs 3,000 people at the Vršany and ČSA lignite mines and the Počerady and Chvaletice power plants, which together cover almost 15 percent of domestic electricity consumption.