Ostrava landfill remediation to proceed via land expropriation

The state is moving toward the expropriation of land owned by OKK Koksovny to facilitate the remediation of the Heřmanice landfill in Ostrava. Following a change in the city's urban plan, the 103.5-hectare site is no longer classified as a waste dump but as an area designated for reclamation.

Negotiations between the state and OKK Koksovny regarding the purchase of the land have failed due to price disagreements. Consequently, the state enterprise Diamo, which has managed the site since 2002, has coordinated with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to unblock the situation through expropriation. Diamo intends to expropriate only the specific portions of land required for the construction of air separation walls, rather than the entire site.

While Diamo acknowledges that expropriation is a time-consuming process, officials view it as the most viable remaining option after years of failed negotiations. However, OKK Koksovny spokesperson Jindřich Vaněk argues that expropriation could cost the state more than double the price of a direct purchase. The company has offered the land for 360 million CZK, claiming that legal seizure is a more expensive route for the government.