Incoming coalition parties reject coal mining beyond existing environmental limits

The parties of the incoming government coalition have not got the greenest credentials or aspirations. But on one issue they have earned praise from environment groups after declaring that they will not get rid of existing limits on mining brown coal. Mining unions, however, are up in arms about that stand.

Photo: Czech Coal

Limits on mining brown coal and the deep scars inflicted on the northern Bohemian landscape were imposed by the government in 1991. But calls for them to be abolished have grown stronger over the years as existing reserves have been exhausted.

Around 800 million tonnes of highly tempting and valuable brown coal lie beyond the existing limits. So does the 2000-strong town of Horní Jiřetín which faced being razed to the ground in the pursuit of that coal. The town became a symbol of resistance to the coal companies lobbying with many people living there refusing the cheques and blandishments of the coal companies encouraging them to move out.

The previous caretaker government of Prime Minister Jan Fischer appeared to be backing coal companies’ calls for the limits to go, saying that the brown coal was vital for Czech Republic’s long term energy security. But the three parties seeking to form a future government, the Civic Democrats, TOP 09, and Public Affairs have come out for them to stay and have said as much in one of completed chapters of their joint programme.

Jan Rovenský

Jan Rovenský is a Greenpeace campaigner covering energy policy and climate change. He says the parties’ promise goes farther than just a pledge for the coming four year election term.

“In the current situation I think we got the best that was possible. It is very important that they not only promised to protect the mining limits, but they also promised that in the mining law the passages relating to expropriation will be removed. So this means that there will be no risk of expropriation for the local people in northern Bohemia. There are hundreds of people who are not ready to sell their homes to the mining company. If this happens it is a very good safeguard.”

Mr. Rovenský says that the decision on mining limits should cut the Czech Republic’s carbon footprint and reduce its contribution to global warming as well.

“It is not only about expropriation and the protection of the environment in northern Bohemia. It is also about climate protection. If this mining expansion does not happen it means we will save 1.3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide that would have occurred if this had been burnt. It is not only about protection of local people but also about climate protection.”

Photo: Tomáš Fencl

But the mining limits decision also has its vocal critics. Mining unions say around 8,000 jobs could be lost in one of the country’s worst employment black spots, pushing the local unemployment rate up to 30 percent. They have called for demonstrations against the decision.