OKD starts filling ventilation shaft at ČSM mine in Stonava, Czechia

Czech mining company OKD began filling the ventilation shaft of the ČSM‑Jih area of the ČSM mine in Stonava, Karviná region, on 21 July 2026. The 900‑metre‑deep shaft will be sealed with about 45,000 m³ of certified stone produced as a by‑product of coal processing, with a total reserve of roughly 60,000 m³. The operation follows the completion of 87 blast‑resistant dams and other safety structures and is expected to last about 11 days.

OKD’s director of mine reclamation, David Hájek, said the project is ahead of schedule and under budget, noting a financial reserve of CZK 3.3 billion for the mine’s full closure. After the southern shaft, work will continue on the northern shaft, with ventilation shutdown planned for September and final sealing of all four shafts targeted for the fourth quarter of 2028. The closure will enable safe methane extraction and the installation of a cogeneration unit in the northern section.