Poland’s neighbors have made a difficult decision. They have just ended something that for generations was part of their daily lives, work, and identity. The Czech Republic has just closed its last hard coal mine. It is entering a new energy phase based on nuclear power and lignite.
Just beyond the Polish border, something is coming to an end that until a few years ago seemed impossible. In the Czech Republic, the last mining face at the ČSM mine in Stonava has stopped operating. In this way, more than two centuries of hard coal mining in the Karviná and Ostrava region have come to a close. This is a symbolic moment, because for decades thousands of miners worked here, including many from Poland. Now the entire region is entering a completely new phase.
Two days to the final extraction
On Saturday, January 31, 2026, during the night shift, production was brought to an end. This was the last operating hard coal facility in the Czech Republic. The mine had been operating since 1968 and was the youngest part of the OKD company. It consisted of two sections: “North,” where mining was carried out, and “South,” which served a storage function.
The symbolic extraction of the last ton is scheduled for Wednesday, February 4. After that day, a multi-year process of decommissioning the facility will begin, including securing shafts, dismantling infrastructure, and land reclamation. This is the definitive end of the Karviná and Ostrava mining region, which for more than two hundred years was one of the most important industrial centers in Central Europe. For residents, this is a difficult moment, full of painful emotions. Mining was the foundation of life here, and entire towns grew up around the mines. The closure of ČSM is not only an economic decision, but also a symbolic end to an era that shaped the region’s identity. Many miners are wondering about the future. Some plan to seek work in Poland, where mines are still operating, while others are counting on retraining programs and support from local authorities.
They are betting on nuclear power
The closure of the last mine does not mean that the Czech Republic is abandoning coal altogether. Lignite-fired power plants are still operating in the country, although their role is diminishing year by year. For several years now, the Czech Republic has been reshaping its energy mix, and today it looks completely different from a decade ago. The most important pillar is nuclear power, which covers about 40 percent of demand. The Dukovany and Temelín power plants provide about one-third of all electricity in the country and are regarded as the foundation of energy security. The government has announced the construction of new nuclear units, which are to gradually replace coal-fired power plants that are being phased out.
They still have lignite
Another element of the system remains lignite, which still accounts for about 35 percent of energy production. The Czech Republic does not plan an abrupt departure from this resource, but rather a gradual phase-out of power plants in the coming years. Gas also plays an important role, used mainly as a source to stabilize the system. The Czech Republic has extensive gas connections with Germany and Slovakia, which allows it to respond flexibly to market needs.
Difficult mining relations with neighbors
Let us recall that not long ago, energy relations between Poland and the Czech Republic were tense due to the Turów mine in Bogatynia. The Czech side demanded its closure, arguing that it affected groundwater levels on their side of the border. The case went to the Court of Justice of the European Union, which ordered Poland to temporarily halt mining and imposed heavy financial penalties.
Ultimately, the two countries reached an agreement, and Poland committed to implementing additional hydrological and environmental safeguards. Turów remained operational, and the dispute formally ended after the signing of an intergovernmental agreement.