News from our region

KARVINÁ – The start of this school year at the Secondary Technology and Services School in Karviná had an exceptional atmosphere. The School started its activity as the Mining Apprentice Centre on September 1, 1950, and as such, on the first day of the new school year, the School reached its sixty-year anniversary.... more

OSTRAVA/BRIGHTON – For someone, it may be just bothering, but for someone else, it is a welcomed opportunity for improving his or her education. One way or another, the language traineeships have become a permanent part of the St. Barbara Civil Association’s work. The organization, which helps children from miners’ families who have lost their father due to a work injury, sends a few of its protégés to such courses every year.... more

OSTRAVA – The Moravian-Silesian Region needs heavy industry and all the factories engaged in this industry need coal! This is a very simple summary of the discussions held by and between the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic and representatives of significant regional companies, including OKD.... more

Dear Employees of OKD,

If any working party is provided with special bonuses, there is a custom that the employees donate a portion of its bonuses to those who need it most – children from the St. Barbara Civil Association whose father died at work underground. At present, we keep almost 90 of them in our files  - many of them are studying, and we provide them with contributions to cover a portion of their school fees or school hostel accommodation costs. For smaller children, we bear costs of their school trips, camp stays and club activities.... more

Tomáš Hanzel, Mayor of Karviná, and Klaus Dieter Beck, OKD CEO, have signed an agreement protecting Karviná for the next 10 years from undesired impacts of mining activities and preserve thousands of jobs. The agreement with OKD will also ensure an unprecedented financial support to Karviná.... more

HORNÍ SUCHÁ – After 99 years from its opening and 11 years after its closing, the František Mine at Horní Suchá came back to life again. On the first Tuesday of May, the industrial zone was inaugurated and, at the same time, one of the repaired access roads was opened.... more

Ostrava (May 18, 2010) – OKD Foundation earmarks up to half a million Czech crowns to help the areas affected by the floods which have recently struck Northern Moravia. The Administration Board has already approved the first fifty thousand for the Czech Red Cross volunteers who have been helping on site since Monday; further funds shall be distributed by the Foundation later on.... more

KARVINÁ – Brothers Lukáš (9) and Radim (11) Kosellek, living in the Karviná Old Town, pursue hobbies similar to those pursued by their father in his childhood. The younger one, featuring livelier nature, has started to go in for hockey.... more

Ostrava – This year, the Saint Barbara's Civic Association will primarily focus on health care for children whose one of the parents died in work-related accidents that involved a member company of the association. The board approved the so-called health care clause, which e.g. provides for the payment for one dose of the cervical cancer vaccine or of an annual allowance for preventive care of up to 1,000 crowns. It will also cover half of the cost of the braces or other expensive medical devices as Vladislav Sobol, the President of the Association, informed the annual meeting yesterday.... more

OSTRAVA – The children must not feel any crisis, and this principle applies even more to those from “Barborka” (i.e. St. Barbara Civil Association). Therefore, the St. Barbara Civil Association prepares, together with the Mother’s Committee, shared events and new contributions to particularly help the neediest people. Apart from the traditional supports for education, the St. Barbara Civil Association wants to help mothers with covering the increasing health care costs.... more