Government to discuss proposal to extend life of Paskov coal mine by two years

Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Mládek has proposed that 1.1 billion crowns be earmarked to prolong the life of the Paskov coal mine for another two years until the end of 2016. Mining company OKD had threatened to close the mine at the end of the year with the loss of around 2,000 miners’ jobs. Mládek said that the proposal had been discussed with finance, social affairs, and environment ministers and would be put to the government some time in April for approval. He said that he had personally favoured the option where the government bought ownership of the mine for a symbolic one crown. The mine is an unemployment black spot with fears that the knock on effects of closure would have been even greater.

Author: Chris Johnstone