Last Czech Coal Mine Begins Backfilling Process

OKD began backfilling its last operating coal mine, Dole ČSM, located in the Karviná region of the Czech Republic. The company will use 45,000 cubic meters of waste material, a byproduct of previous coal processing, to fill a kilometer-long shaft over eleven continuous days.

Workers are currently finishing operations in the mine’s lowest levels. The mine ceased coal extraction on January 31st, after exhausting all viable reserves.

OKD plans to use a secondary shaft for methane extraction, a process expected to take much of 2027. The company is also installing a cogeneration unit to generate electricity and heat from mine gas, aiming to reduce external energy costs and supply power to the public grid. OKD currently employs 550 workers and expects the liquidation process to continue into 2028.