Energy Concept: Decisions are to be made in consideration of the Region future

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. Ján Fabián, Chief Development and Strategy Officer, OKD is one of the authors of a document dealing with    “employment saving” to be received by the new Government as soon as possible.

“Our discussions were held on the basis of a long-term governmental energy concept. Unfortunately, no energy concept has been developed. Such energy concept, i.e. energy master plan, should clearly describe the fuel mix for the future. Should the Government decide that nuclear energy and renewable resources will be the priorities and that they will downsize the fossil fuel usage, then it would impact the coal – a strategic raw material and mineral resource of the country,” said Fabián after the meeting held at the Mining University.

According to Jaroslav Míl, President, Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic, even though the coal reserves write-off is a legitimate step within the energy strategy, it is necessary to consider all impacts! And such impacts might also consist in the industrial giants moving away. “There is a link of coal to other industries, such as steel and engineering plants, which would immediately leave the Region if the coal reserves should be written off. They would do that definitely and irretrievably,” added the  Chief Development and Strategy Officer of OKD.

The mining company ranks among the significant members of the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic, and this Confederation, including approximately 1,600 companies, agreed that at present, the Czech Republic is missing “a clear vision” of energy policy. In this connection, the President of the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic also mentioned “incapability, ignorance and incompetency” and emphasised   the necessity of systematic decision-making by the Government. “And when the Government does not work, then its role must be assumed by the Regions,” emphasized Míl.

Both the  Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic and the regional industrial leaders consider the Region’s role to be of great importance. “In the past, the concept was clearly defined. We were proud of forming twenty percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Miners and metallurgical workers are dirty professions – this is the way of how the politicians look at them now. It is necessary to get rid of political, moral and any other prejudice,” said Jiří Ciencala, Director, Třinec Ironworks, also a member of the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic.

(Radek Lukša)