Government agrees to do away with mining limits at Bílina

The Czech cabinet announced a long-awaited decision on the future of mining limits in the Ústí region in North Bohemia on Monday, agreeing to do away with limits at the facility in Bílina to allow the extraction of an estimated 100 million tonnes of brown coal. The move comes despite warnings from doctors, scientists and others who have said the change could harm the environment and would negatively impact local communities. By contrast, the move was welcomed by hundreds of miners and other supporters who say it will improve local employment. Industry and Trade Minister Jan Mládek told the press that while restrictions would likely be lifted at Bílina, they would remain in place at another mine, ČSA. Restrictions on mining in the area have in place since 1991.