On 27 November 2024, the Minister of the Environment, Climate and Energy, mag. Bojan Kumer, and the State Secretary at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, mag. Miran Gajšek, attended an extraordinary session of the Works Council and the SPESS Trade Union of Premogovnik Velenje (Velenje Coal Mine), which was convened mainly for the purpose of notifying the social partners of the company about the current developments regarding the future of the Velenje Coal Mine.

The Act on Transitional Financing for an Accelerated and Fair Coal Phase-out (previously the Intervention Act) and the Act on the Gradual Closure of the Velenje Coal Mine are being drafted. Both laws are key to the future of both the Velenje Coal Mine and the Šoštanj Thermal Power Plant. The managements and social partners of both companies have already submitted their initiatives for changes, i.e. amendments. A third, equally exceptionally important act – the Act on the Restructuring of the Savinja-Šalek (SAŠA) region – is also being drafted. All three should, according to the assurances and guidelines of the EU and Slovenia and the competent ministries, enable a fair coal phase-out in this region.

The Act on Transitional Financing for an Accelerated and Fair Coal Phase-out is of key importance for the future operation of the Velenje Coal Mine and the Šoštanj Thermal Power Plant, because the funds that will enable both companies to operate without disruption in the new year and beyond will be provided on its basis. The transitional act will thus enable the coal phase-out and restructuring of the region to be carried out in a calm, thoughtful and socially just manner.

The draft of the Act on the Gradual Closure of the Velenje Coal Mine says that the cessation of coal extraction in the Velenje Coal Mine is scheduled for 31 December 2033, while the gradual closure would actually start next year. This means that coal extraction continues, mainly at the extraction sites in the Preloge Pit, while the gradual closure of lines and connections would begin in the area of the Pesje Pit. On the basis of the Act on the Gradual Closure, the Velenje Coal Mine would receive the funds required for the closure work in the next two years.

Mag. Marko Mavec, the Director General of Premogovnik Velenje: “In the coming year, we plan to extract 1.8 million tonnes of coal, after which the output will be reduced. In 2026, 1.6 million tonnes are planned, after which we will gradually approach the figure of 1 million tonnes of coal a year. Coal extraction in the Velenje Coal Mine will be adjusted to the number of employees over the period until its closure, as we will use the “natural outflow” method. Output will be reduced at the pace at which employees will be retiring or leaving the company.

We in the Šalek Valley will do everything to ensure that the restructuring and coal phase-out is carried out under the principle of just transition. It must be socially, economically, environmentally and developmentally just. The Šalek Valley did not decide on its own to carry out the coal phase-out, nor did Premogovnik Velenje. This is what the EU has committed to, and Slovenia followed suit in accordance with European principles. Everyone, both at the ministries and in the EU, ensures us that none of our employees will be forgotten. We believe that all three acts will enable the just transition of the Velenje Coal Mine to the phase when coal extraction will be stopped, and then to the phase when we will be able to close all underground facilities and rehabilitate the surface in a quality manner.”