Severní energetická negotiates direct reclamation fund distribution for Most region

Severní energetická, a company within billionaire Pavel Tykač’s energy group, has begun negotiations with mayors in the Most region regarding the distribution of funds saved from the reclamation of the ČSA brown coal mine.

According to Luboš Pavlas, a manager at Česká energie, the company intends to distribute 213 million CZK directly to the municipalities from a total of 470 million CZK in savings. This approach bypasses the State Environmental Fund (SFŽP), which was the original intended channel for these funds. Pavlas noted that municipalities have been waiting for state-mediated subsidies for over a year, during which time disputes have arisen regarding the calculation of savings and land prices.

Environmental organizations have criticized the move, suggesting it aligns with concerns that the company intends to retain the majority of the reclamation savings. The reclamation process for the ČSA mine, which ended in 2024, shifted from technical reclamation to a natural succession method approved by the Ministry of the Environment, which is more cost-effective. The legality of the decisions regarding the mine's reclamation plan has been subject to review by the Czech Mining Office and is currently facing a lawsuit in the Regional Court in Ústí nad Labem.