Mining at Bilina mine can end by 2030 - CEZ spokesman

Prague, June 24 (CTK) - Mining at the Bilina lignite mine could end by 2030, not 2035, until which time it has been granted a mining permit, as it is the CEZ energy group's strategy to end coal mining by 2030, CEZ spokesman Ladislav Kriz told CTK today.

The Bilina mine would remain in operation until 2035 in case an unexpected situation arised, he said.

"We assume that coal mining will end by 2030 - and thus also mining in Bilina. But we will see how the situation on the energy markets develops. We experienced this two years ago when the energy crisis began with the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops. At such a moment, everything changes. For now, we are not making any strong commitments to stop mining in Bilina by 2030, but of course our assumption is that the use of lignite in the Czech Republic will end by 2030," Kriz said.

A number of environmental organisations have long protested against the extension of mining.

The bad news is that the CEZ is planning to replace coal on a large scale with natural gas, that is one fossil fuel with another, said Jaroslav Bican, head of the energy campaign of Greenpeace CR.

ham/er/tam