Slovakia and coal
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Slovakia's energy supplies are dominated by gas and oil imports from Russia and coal, a declining share of the latter is domestically produced brown coal and lignite from underground mines. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that in 2005 2.5 million tonnes of brown coal and lignite was mined in Slovakia, down from 3.4 million tonnes in 2001.[1]
The International Energy Agency notes that in 2004 approximately 9 million tonnes of coal was consumed with the energy sector consuming 43%, coke plants 21%, industry 24% and others and the residential market 2%.[2] It also notes "coal use has been decreasing and largely relies on imports as domestic lignite production has continued to decline. This trend is expected to accelerate with stricter emission limits and carbon quotas."[3]
Imports: hard coal (4.7 Mt) of which coking coal (60%), lignite (1 Mt) • Direct subsidies: SKK 120 m (€ 3 m) • CO emissions from coal combustion: 17 Mt (43.9% of total) inc. electricity and heat generation (7.1 Mt), industry (5.1 Mt) and other energy sector (3.2 Mt) • Employment: mining (6,500; 2004: 5,070)
Contents
Coal Mining Operations
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, coal mining operations in Slovakia are[1]:
- Hornonitranske Bane, a.s. at Prievidza in central Slovakia has the capacity to mine approximately 3.5 million tonnes of brown coal;
- Bana Dolina, a.s. at V'lky Krtis in southern Slovakia has the capacity to mine approximately 500,000 tonnes of brown coal; and
- Bana Zhorie, a.s. at Holic in western Slovakia has the capacity to mine approximately 400,000 tonnes of lignite.
(Note: the USGS reports the capacity of the mine not the actual production.)
Proposed Coal-Fired Power Stations
- Trebisov Power Station is proposed by Ceskoslovenska Energetica Spolocnost to have an installed capacity of 885 megawatts and cost 1.1 billion euros. The proposal is being opposed by local residents, the local council, winemakers in nearby Hungary and the Hungarian government.[4]
- Novaky Power Station Expansion: In 2001 the Swiss company, Advance Power proposed to spend 300 million euros to build a 280 megawatt lignite-fired plant in Novaky. The state-owned power utility SE's existing Nováky plant has an installed capacity of 522 megawatts, of which 110 megawatts capacity was scheduled to be decommissioned in late 2005. Advance Power's proposal was seen as a lifline for the three mines operated by Hornonitrianske bane Prievidza, which supplied the Nováky plant. [5] A report for the European Union reported that the output of the station would be 270 megawatts. The report also stated that "the construction should be launched in 2004 and the plant should be put into operation by the end of 2007. The power plant should generate 2,000 GWh of electricity while consuming 1.7m tons of brown coal from Novaky coalfields annually. The Ministry of Economy issued a license for the project in 2000. The total budget should reach USD 300m, of which Advanced Power should finance 70%. To achieve the aim, a new company Slovenska uholna elektraren Novaky j.s.c. has been established with Advanced Power having share of 66% and Hornonitrianske bane Prievidza 34%. Advanced Power has already made preliminary contract with the electricity distributor SSE as well as with Hornotrianske bane. The idea of project was initiated by Hornonitrianske bane, which currently supplies brown coal to the thermal power station Novaky owned by SE. The conclusion of this contract between SE and Hornonitrianske Bane was forced by the Slovak government in order to preserve the “social coal mining” and thus employment in the region. In coming years, the Novaky power station plans to shut down two obsolete blocks with an installed capacity of 110 MWe. This would decrease supplies of coal from Hornonitrianske Bane significantly, taking a heavy toll on the employment in the region."[6]
Articles and Resources
Sources
- ↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 Walter G. Steblez, "The Mineral Industries of Central Europe: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia", 2005 Minerals Yearbook, U.S. Geological Survey, page 28 and 29.
- ↑ International Energy Agency, "Slovak Republic - Energy Policy Review 2005: Coal", International Energy Agency, 2006, pages 129-134.
- ↑ International Energy Agency, "Slovak Republic - Energy Policy Review 2005 - Executive Summary, Recommendations: Rapid, Radical Reforms", International Energy Agency, 2006, page 13.
- ↑ "Objections mount to proposal for new power station in Slovakia", ITN, August 27, 2007.
- ↑ Peter Barecz, "Swiss firm to build power plant", Spectator, November 6, 2001.
- ↑ Lubos Bednar, The Expected Effects of the EU Accession on the Electric Energy Sector in the Slovak Republic, International Center for Economic Growth, May 2003, page 32.
Related SourceWatch articles
Europe and coal
- Austria and coal
- Belgium and coal
- Bulgaria and coal
- France and coal
- Germany and coal
- Greece and coal
- Hungary and coal
- Italy and coal
- Netherlands and coal
- Norway and coal
- Poland and coal
- United Kingdom and coal
External Articles
Background information
- International Energy Agency, "Coal in Slovak Republic in 2005", International Energy Agency website, accessed July 2008.
- International Energy Agency, "Slovak Republic", International Energy Agency website, accessed July 2008.
- U.S. Geological Survey, Slovakia 2000-2005
- European Environment Agency, European Pollutant Emission Register. (This has a list of power stations and their current emissions).
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