Czech industry ministry proposes new strategic sites for stone and gravel

The Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) plans to designate 51 new sites as strategically important deposits of building stone and gravel, citing a shortage of raw materials for major infrastructure projects. According to a draft government regulation, the deposits would be located near planned projects such as new highway sections and nuclear blocks at Dukovany. The Confederation of Industry has welcomed the proposal, while some municipalities oppose it. A study by the Mining Union and Czech Geological Survey notes that in 2024 there were 234 active deposits and around 211 quarries, most in Vysočina, Central Bohemia, Olomouc, South Bohemia, Pardubice and Ústí regions.