Bilina, Czech Republic – In the early hours of the morning, seven activists from the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany occupied an excavator in the Bilina coal mine, prompting the temporary suspension of mining operations for safety reasons, according to Lukas Kopecky, a spokesperson for Severoceske doly mining company. The company promptly contacted the police and mining office to address the situation, emphasizing the financial loss incurred due to the unauthorized occupation.

By midday, the mining operations had resumed, with only the occupied excavator remaining out of commission. The police are present at the site and have called upon the activists to vacate the excavator. Police spokesperson Ilona Gazdosova stated that once the activists are identified, the mining office will address the offense.

The occupation of the excavator began at 3 am and was initiated by two women and five men protesting against the decision to extend mining activities at the Bilina site until 2035. Severoceske doly, a subsidiary of the state-controlled CEZ energy group and the owner of the Bilina mine, received permission for the mining extension from the District Mining Office in March.

Greenpeace spokesperson Lukas Hrabek conveyed that the activists intend to remain on the excavator for at least 24 hours, but their plans may be contingent upon inclement weather conditions. Meteorologists have issued warnings of heavy storms, primarily in the evening and at night.

Jaroslav Bican from Greenpeace highlighted Severoceske doly’s application for an unlimited mining extension, which could potentially extend operations into the 2040s. He criticized the lack of consideration given to the environmental impact of such an extension. Bican stressed that the aim of the occupation was to draw attention to the “climate crime” being committed at the Bilina lignite mine and called upon CEZ to withdraw its intention to extend mining.

Greenpeace also criticized the Czech Environment Ministry’s supportive stance towards the mining extension, issued as part of an environmental impact assessment under Minister Richard Brabec. The plan entails mining nearly 50 million tons of coal, resulting in an average annual carbon dioxide emission of 11.5 million tons. Greenpeace urged Environment Minister Petr Hladik to change the ministry’s position and reject the mining extension, in line with the government’s policy statement supporting coal phase-out by 2033 and prioritizing renewable energy sources.

Previous protests by environmental activists involved similar occupations of excavators in the Bilina and Tusimice mines in the Usti region in June 2021. The activists aim to raise awareness about the environmental consequences of continued coal mining and advocate for a transition towards more sustainable energy sources.

Article by Prague Forum