OKD Accelerates Mine Closure While Diamo Extends Timeline in Czech Republic

State-owned mining company OKD has begun sealing the shafts of the former ČSM coal mine within months of ending production, aiming to complete the closure of all four shafts by the fourth quarter of 2028. The firm set aside a 3.3 billion‑koruna reserve for the work and plans to backfill the main shaft with a cement‑ash mixture by early 2027, followed by the final sealing of the northern vent shaft in September.

In contrast, the state enterprise Diamo, which took over the liquidation of former mines in the Karviná region, follows a longer schedule. Diamo has so far secured the closure of eleven of the eighteen shafts it inherited, with three already backfilled to ground level. The remaining four shafts – two at the former ČSA mine and two at Darkov – are slated for completion by the end of 2029. Diamo’s timeline depends on budget allocations from the state, leading to slower progress compared with OKD.