BRATISLAVA, September 4, (WEBNOVINY) — Between 2005 and 2010, the state supported mining in Slovakia with EUR 44.5 million. Over the five years, the state provided the highest support to coal mining, namely EUR 26.78 million. The remaining volume was used to support winding down ore mining. This stems from an analysis of the Economy Ministry.
Within support of coal mining, sources were provided in particular to open access to new coal deposits. The mining firm Hornonitrianske Bane Prievidza received nearly EUR 21 million between 2005 and 2010. The ministry does not plan to support projects to open coal deposits in the future.
More than EUR 3.2 million was provided for severance pay and allowances to miners, while over EUR 2.6 million was used for winding down mining activities. The ministry further stated that coal mining in the region of Upper Nitra is an important source of employment and social securities in the region, therefore support in the future will be necessary. The ministry suggests finding optimum ways to support coal mining in Slovakia in the future. The state will not support extraction of mineral raw materials for private firms.
The largest coal mining firm in Slovakia is Hornonitrianske Bane Prievidza. The total consumption of coal in Slovakia has oscillated around 8.2 to 9.45 million tons annually in recent years, while majority was imported. Employment in coal mining was between 4,200 to 4,600 in the monitored period. Hornonitrianske Bane Prievidza employed 4,100.
SITA
