Czech bituminous coal mining to end in January 2026

Mining of bituminous coal at the ČSM Mine in Stonava, Karviná region, will end on January 31, 2026 — marking the closure of the last active bituminous coal mine in the Czech Republic. The state-owned company OKD will lay off about 900 employees by the end of February, paying more than half a billion crowns in severance. OKD plans to retain around 600 workers for three years to carry out the technical liquidation of the mine and to develop new business activities, including capturing and using mine gas to produce electricity and heat. The company also plans to buy coal and use its existing facilities to create customized energy mixtures. CEO Roman Sikora said the last wagon of coal would leave the mine after almost 250 years of mining history.