The Czech Republic is set to close its last deep hard coal mine at the end of January, marking the end of more than 250 years of underground coal mining in the Ostrava region. Final extraction is underway at the CSM mine in Stonava near the Polish border, as low global coal prices, rising mining costs and Europe’s green transition have made deep mining economically unviable. The shutdown brings to a close an industry that once powered Central Europe’s industrial growth.

State-owned miner OKD had planned to shut the mine earlier, but soaring energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine temporarily extended operations. However, kilometre-deep shafts and increasing operational costs proved unsustainable. For miners, the closure carries emotional weight, ending generations of underground work that shaped the region’s identity and economy. OKD now employs about 2,300 workers, with further job cuts expected in the coming months.

Once an industrial powerhouse employing over 100,000 miners, the Ostrava basin has been reshaped by decades of mine closures. While unemployment remains above the national average, retraining programmes, foreign investment and EU support have helped stabilise the region. Backed by funding from the EU’s Just Transition programme, OKD is planning a post-coal future that includes energy storage, data infrastructure and alternative power projects, signalling a shift from underground mining to new above-ground industries.

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