Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Most

Most is a statutory city in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic, situated in the northwestern part of the country between the Krušné Mountains and the Czech Central Highlands along the Bílina River.^[1] Primarily an industrial center, it has long been defined by lignite coal mining, which expanded dramatically under communist rule and necessitated the near-total demolition of its medieval historic core in 1964 to enable larger open-pit operations and worker housing.^[2] This relocation, ordered by the Czechoslovak government, relocated key structures like the Gothic St. Nicholas Church while erasing much of the old town's architecture, marking one of the most extreme examples of urban sacrifice for resource extraction in post-war Eastern Europe.^[2] The mining legacy has yielded significant economic output but also persistent environmental degradation, health impacts from pollution, and ongoing debates over mine closures and regional just transition efforts amid EU pressure to phase out lignite.^[3]

History

Origins and medieval development

The earliest recorded reference to Most appears in the Chronicle of the Czechs by Cosmas of Prague, dating to 1040, where it is described as "Pons Gnevin iuxta fluvium Belinam" (Bridge of Gnevin near the Belina River) amid conflicts between Holy Roman Emperor Henry III and Duke Břetislav I of Bohemia.^[4]^[5] The name "Most," meaning "bridge" in Czech, reflects its origins as a crossing point over the marshy Bílina River valley, facilitating early trade routes near the borders with Saxony and the Ore Mountains.^[4] Archaeological evidence suggests pre-medieval Slavic settlement in the area, but documented development accelerated in the 13th century under the Přemyslid dynasty. In 1227, Kojata of the Hrabišic family bequeathed Most and adjacent lands to Zderaz Monastery, only for King Wenceslaus I to reclaim them via escheat in 1238.^[4] Between 1238 and 1248, construction of Hněvín Castle elevated Most's strategic importance, serving as a royal stronghold overlooking the town.^[4] By 1247, Most was explicitly referenced as a town, though its founding charter is lost; it achieved royal town status by mid-century, with the oldest surviving town seal dated 1257 and a royal mint operating in the 1260s until monetary reforms post-1300.^[4]^[5] In 1273, King Přemysl Otakar II granted Most key privileges, including the ius mile (toll exemption within a one-mile radius), compulsory storage of merchants' goods, and rights to imprison debtors, fostering commerce along north-south trade corridors.^[4]^[5] By the late 13th century, the settlement adopted Gothic urban features, functioning as an economic hub supplying food to mining regions in the Krušné Hory (Ore Mountains) and adjudicating disputes due to its location on major routes.^[4] The 14th century marked peak medieval prosperity under the Luxembourg dynasty. John of Luxembourg and Charles IV reinforced its royal privileges, with self-governing town council established by 1337 and full fortification walls completed mid-century; in 1374, Charles IV extended Prague-level wine trading rights to Most.^[4] Demographic shifts included German colonization, making it predominantly German-speaking by the 14th century, while crafts and guilds—nine by the late 15th century—diversified the economy beyond agriculture to include textiles, metalwork, and early mining support.^[4] This era positioned Most as a vital link in Bohemian trade networks, though Hussite Wars in the early 15th century later disrupted growth.^[4]

Industrialization and early mining

Industrialization in the Most region accelerated during the early 19th century, driven by the exploitation of abundant lignite deposits in the North Bohemian Basin, which served as a key fuel source amid the Austrian Empire's shift toward steam-powered manufacturing and transport. Initial underground mining operations commenced around this period, supporting local brickworks, glass production, and emerging chemical industries that relied on coal for energy and raw materials. By the 1840s, lignite extraction had become integral to Bohemia's coal-driven economic transformation, with output rising as demand from railways and factories grew; for instance, Czech lands transitioned rapidly from traditional fuels like wood and charcoal to coal, fundamentally reshaping industrial clusters in northern Bohemia.^[6]^[7] The adoption of mechanized techniques and improved infrastructure, including railway connections by the mid-19th century, facilitated expanded production, though early efforts remained small-scale compared to later developments. Lignite's lower quality compared to bituminous coal limited its initial appeal, but proximity to surface deposits and lower extraction costs encouraged persistence, with annual outputs in Bohemian basins increasing steadily through the 1860s to underpin textile, metallurgy, and energy sectors. Environmental impacts were already evident by the late 19th century, as mining began altering local hydrology and land use, setting precedents for the basin's future dominance in Czech energy production.^[7]^[6] Opencast mining emerged at the turn of the 20th century, marking a pivotal shift toward large-scale industrialization; this method exploited thick, near-surface seams more efficiently than shafts, boosting yields but intensifying landscape disruption in the Most area. Early surface operations, documented in period photographs from around 1900, relied on manual labor and basic machinery, yet laid the groundwork for the mechanized expansions that would define the region's economy into the 20th century.^[8]^[9]

20th-century mining expansion and town relocation

The expansion of lignite mining in the Most region intensified during the interwar period of the First Czechoslovak Republic (1918–1938), driven by growing industrial demand, with annual production reaching approximately 2 million tons by the 1930s through increasingly mechanized open-pit operations.^[10] Following World War II and the 1948 communist takeover, the regime prioritized coal extraction to fuel rapid heavy industrialization and electrification, leading to a surge in output; by the early 1950s, the Most Basin's mines produced over 10 million tons annually, with open-cast methods expanding to encompass entire villages such as Žatec and Horní Jiřetín.^[11] This period saw the introduction of large-scale bucket-wheel excavators, enabling the removal of overburden at rates exceeding 100,000 cubic meters per day, which accelerated landscape alteration but also displaced thousands of residents to state-built housing estates.^[12] By the late 1950s, the proximity of expanding pits to Most's historic core—underlain by an estimated 85 million tons of recoverable lignite—necessitated radical intervention, as subsidence risks and operational constraints threatened both the town and mining efficiency.^[10] On March 26, 1964, the Czechoslovak government formally resolved to demolish the old town, prioritizing coal access for national energy needs over preservation, with the decision enabling the pit's growth to over 1,000 meters in width by the 1970s.^[2] Demolition commenced that year, systematically razing baroque and gothic structures over 23 years until April 1, 1987, while relocating approximately 10,000 inhabitants to a new planned settlement 2 kilometers southeast, constructed primarily with prefabricated concrete panel blocks to house miners and support ongoing extraction.^[2] ^[13] A notable exception amid the destruction was the 13th-century St. Nicholas Church, which state engineers dismantled and reconstructed 300 meters away between 1975 and 1979 using hydraulic jacks to lift its 12,000-ton structure intact, preserving a key cultural artifact at a cost equivalent to millions in contemporary currency.^[2] The relocation transformed Most into a modernist industrial hub aligned with socialist planning ideals, though it resulted in the loss of much of the town's pre-20th-century architectural heritage and contributed to severe environmental degradation, including groundwater depletion and dust pollution affecting surrounding areas.^[10] By the 1980s, the mine's output peaked at around 20 million tons per year, underscoring the regime's resource extraction focus despite the human and cultural costs.^[12]

Post-communist privatization and economic shifts

Following the Velvet Revolution of November 1989, the Czech Republic embarked on large-scale privatization of state-owned enterprises as part of its transition from a centrally planned economy to a market-oriented system. In the Most district, dominated by lignite (brown coal) surface mining, this process involved the restructuring of operations under companies like Severočeské doly a.s. (SD), which managed key open-pit mines such as those at Ležáky and Český raj near Most. Initial privatization efforts utilized voucher schemes in the early 1990s, distributing shares to citizens, but mining firms faced delays due to their strategic importance and environmental liabilities; by 2004, competitive tenders emerged, with bids such as Penta Group's CZK 6.831 billion offer for SD reflecting market valuation amid declining production.^[14]^[15] Severočeské doly, a major employer in Most with operations extracting over 20 million tonnes annually in the late 1980s, underwent full acquisition by ČEZ Group—a utility holding approximately 70% state-owned—in December 2005, marking the completion of its privatization through direct sale rather than vouchers alone. This shift integrated mining with power generation, as ČEZ sought to secure fuel supplies for thermal plants like those at Tušimice and Ledvice adjacent to Most, but it also exposed the sector to market pressures, including subsidy cuts and EU environmental directives post-2004 accession. Production volumes declined from peaks under socialism, constrained by deposit exhaustion (e.g., one Most-area mine depleted by 2006) and government decrees like No. 331/1991 limiting extraction to promote sustainability.^[16]^[14]^[17] Economic impacts in Most were profound, with mining employment plummeting from 18,086 workers (21.6% of the productive population) in 1987 to 1,962 (2.6%) by 2015, reflecting broader post-communist restructuring and a pivot toward efficiency over employment guarantees. Unemployment in the district spiked in the early 1990s, exceeding national averages, contributing to a 11.1% population decline from 1990 to 2021 as workers migrated or retired without replacement. While privatization modernized operations—reducing costs through mechanization and foreign technology transfers—it exacerbated regional disparities, with Most's heavy industry share dropping from 35.9% of employment in 1991 to 17.9% by 2001, prompting diversification into logistics and services tied to the Prague gateway but hampered by the mining-altered landscape and skill mismatches.^[17]^[14]^[17] By the 2010s, policy shifts accelerated the decline, with a 2033 lignite phase-out target under national and EU decarbonization goals, though strategic reserves allow potential resumption if energy security demands it. This has fostered debates on "just transition" funding, with EU allocations supporting retraining, yet local reliance on mining persists, underscoring privatization's role in enabling market adaptation at the cost of short-term social dislocation.^[17]^[18]

Geography and Environment

Geological setting and location

Most is located in the Ústí nad Labem Region of northwestern Czech Republic, serving as the administrative center of Most District, at geographic coordinates approximately 50°30′N 13°38′E.^[19] The city occupies a position between the Central Bohemian Uplands to the southeast and the Ore Mountains to the northwest, roughly 77 kilometers northwest of Prague, within a landscape shaped by extensive open-cast lignite mining that has altered its original topography.^[19] Geologically, Most lies within the North Bohemian Basin (also termed the Most Basin), a Neogene sedimentary basin representing the largest lignite deposit in the Czech Republic and one of Europe's richest, with proven reserves exceeding 6 billion tonnes of lignite.^[20] This basin, spanning the southwestern and central portions of the Ústí nad Labem Region between localities such as Chomutov, Most, and Žatec, consists primarily of Miocene-age freshwater deposits formed in a subsiding tectonic depression over a crystalline basement of Variscan origin.^[21] The sedimentary fill includes thick sequences of lacustrine silty clays, deltaic sands, alluvial deposits, and multiple lignite seams up to 100 meters thick, accumulated in a paleolake environment during the Early Miocene.^[22]^[23] The basin's lignite formations, such as those in the Most Formation, overlie Paleogene volcanics and are capped by Quaternary sediments, with mining exposures revealing combustion metamorphism in some seams due to spontaneous coal fires, producing unique mineral assemblages including paralava and clinker rocks across at least 65 documented sites.^[24] Tectonically, the basin relates to extension in the western Eger (Ohře) Rift, facilitating the deposition of organic-rich sediments under subtropical paleoclimatic conditions conducive to peat accumulation and subsequent coalification.^[23] These features underpin the region's economic reliance on lignite extraction, primarily via opencast methods in quarries like Lom ČSA, situated between Most and Litvínov.^[25]

Climate and natural features

Most exhibits a temperate continental climate typical of Central Europe, featuring cold, snowy winters and mild to warm summers. The average annual temperature is 9.1 °C, with January averages around 1 °C for highs and -5 °C for lows, while July sees highs near 24 °C.^[26] ^[27] Annual precipitation totals approximately 608 mm, distributed relatively evenly but with higher rainfall in summer months, often accompanied by thunderstorms.^[26] The region's inland position and basin topography contribute to occasional temperature inversions and fog during winter, exacerbating air quality issues from historical industrial activity, though natural climatic patterns remain dominated by westerly winds bringing Atlantic influences.^[28] Geographically, Most occupies a low-lying basin in the North Bohemian Uplands, part of the broader Bohemian Massif, characterized by flat to gently undulating plains and fertile alluvial soils formed from Cretaceous sediments and volcanic activity.^[29] The Ohře River, the fourth-longest in the Czech Republic at 316 km, bisects the area, originating in Germany's Fichtelgebirge mountains and draining a 5,614 km² watershed before joining the Elbe; it supports riparian ecosystems with willows, alders, and aquatic habitats historically rich in fish like brown trout.^[30] ^[31] Surrounding the basin are low hills rising toward the Ore Mountains (Krušné Hory) to the northwest, with elevations reaching 1,000 m, featuring mixed deciduous and coniferous forests of beech, oak, and spruce that transition into the basin's more open grasslands and meadows.^[32] These natural elements, including mineral springs and peat bogs in nearby reserves, reflect the region's tectonic subsidence and glacial influences from the Pleistocene era.^[33]

Mining-altered landscape

Open-pit lignite mining in the Most district has transformed the local landscape from a mix of historic settlements, arable fields, and forested hills into a patchwork of enormous excavations, overburden dumps, and emerging post-mining features. The extraction process, dominant since the mid-20th century, involved removing vast quantities of overburden to access shallow lignite seams, resulting in the eradication of over 100 villages and parts of larger towns across the North Bohemian lignite basin, including the core of Most itself.^[10]^[34] The most dramatic alteration occurred with the demolition of Most's medieval center, initiated by a 1964 Czechoslovak government resolution to prioritize coal expansion over preservation, leading to the systematic razing of historic structures between 1964 and the 1980s and the relocation of approximately 90,000 residents region-wide. This enabled the expansion of mines like Ležáky, which left behind a massive pit now flooded to form Lake Most, covering over 300 hectares and representing the Czech Republic's largest artificial pit lake as of its completion in 2020 at a cost of CZK 2.5 billion.^[2]^[35] Mining activities have devastated hundreds of square kilometers of cultural landscape in the Mostecko subregion, displacing drainage systems and creating subsidence risks that persist beyond active operations.^[34] Overburden from these pits was deposited into expansive spoil heaps, artificially elevating the terrain and covering former agricultural and forested areas, with heaps in the northwest Bohemian fields dating from 0 to 45 years old showing varying stages of erosion and colonization. Reclamation efforts have included technical interventions like flooding exhausted pits for lakes and hydrotechnical stabilization, alongside spontaneous vegetation succession on dumps, which has fostered unique ecosystems but often fails to restore pre-mining soil fertility or hydrology without additional measures. Across the Czech Republic, coal mining has scarred over 1,400 km²—about 2% of national territory—with the Most area exemplifying the Podkrušnohoří region's synonymy with open-cast devastation.^[36]^[37]^[9]

Economy

Lignite mining operations

Lignite mining operations in the Most district primarily involve large-scale open-pit extraction within the central portion of the North Bohemian Brown Coal Basin, utilizing continuous surface mining techniques to access shallow, high-volume deposits.^[38] These operations employ bucket-wheel excavators for overburden removal and coal extraction, followed by conveyor belt transport to on-site processing facilities where the lignite is crushed, graded, and prepared for delivery to nearby power plants such as Počerady.^[39] The method prioritizes efficiency in handling the soft, moisture-rich lignite, which has a low calorific value of approximately 6-10 MJ/kg, necessitating high extraction volumes to meet energy demands.^[3] Key active mines near Most include the Bílina mine, operated by Severočeské doly a.s. (a ČEZ Group subsidiary), which extracts lignite from deposits extending into the Most area, and the adjacent Vršany and ČSA (Czechoslovak Army) mines, managed by Vršanská uhelná a.s. under Sev.en Energy.^[40]^[41] Sev.en Energy's facilities in the Ústí nad Labem region, encompassing Most, accounted for about 30% of national lignite output as of 2021, with combined annual production from its two mines exceeding 7 million tonnes prior to recent declines.^[3] Severočeské doly, the largest producer, operated the Nástup-Tušimice and Bílina sites, contributing the majority of the basin's yield, though exact Most-specific figures are integrated into regional totals due to overlapping concessions. National lignite production, dominated by North Bohemian operations including Most, totaled approximately 25-28 million tonnes in 2023, down 15% from 2022 amid EU decarbonization pressures and mine closures.^[42] By August 2024, output had fallen an additional 20% year-over-year, reflecting reduced demand from coal-fired plants and legal mining limits established in 1991 that cap extraction in the Most Basin at around 12 billion tonnes total reserves, with active limits constraining further expansion.^[43] These operations employ advanced dust suppression and reclamation measures during active phases, though full site restoration, as seen with the closed Ležáky pit (flooded to form Most Lake in 2020), occurs post-extraction.^[35] Employment in the sector has stabilized at several thousand workers across four primary lignite enterprises as of 2023, supporting local supply chains for heavy machinery and transport.^[44] Planned phase-out by the mid-2030s for hard coal contrasts with lignite's extended timeline, tied to grid reliability and reserve utilization.^[45] The energy sector in the Most district centers on lignite-fired power generation, leveraging the abundant reserves of the North Bohemian Brown Coal Basin, where open-pit mining supplies fuel directly to nearby thermal stations. These facilities, including Prunéřov I (four units totaling 440 MW, operational since the 1960s with upgrades) and Prunéřov II (five supercritical units at 1,050 MW, commissioned from 1980s onward), are managed by ČEZ Group and produce baseload electricity for the national grid using local lignite from mines such as Ležák and ČSA.^[46] Efficiency improvements, such as retrofits for lower emissions and higher thermal yields, have extended operations amid EU decarbonization pressures, with Prunéřov II achieving over 40% efficiency in its advanced blocks.^[47] Adjacent plants like Tušimice (800 MW across four units, modernized by 2023 for compliance with emission standards) and Ledvice (ongoing construction of a new 660 MW unit as of 2024) further integrate lignite from the Most-Sokolov sub-basins, contributing to regional output that historically accounted for a significant share of Czech lignite-based generation, estimated at around 20-25% of national coal-fired capacity pre-privatization shifts.^[48] Počerady Power Station (1,847 MW operational capacity), supplied by basin lignite until recent ownership changes, was divested by ČEZ to Sev.en Energy in 2024, reflecting strategic unbundling to focus on nuclear and renewables while preserving fossil backup for grid stability.^[49] In 2022, lignite and hard coal together generated 43.8% of Czechia's 84.8 TWh gross electricity, underscoring the basin's role despite national trends toward reduction.^[38] Related industries encompass coal beneficiation and handling, where lignite is crushed, dried, and sometimes pelletized to optimize combustion in plant boilers, alongside byproduct management such as fly ash processing for construction aggregates—utilizing millions of tons annually from Most-area stations to mitigate waste disposal.^[3] District heating networks, powered by cogeneration at these plants, supply heat to Most and surrounding towns, with excess steam from turbines enabling combined heat-and-power efficiencies up to 80% in integrated systems.^[41] Ancillary sectors include heavy machinery maintenance for boilers and turbines (often sourced from Škoda Power) and sulfur dioxide scrubbers installed post-2000s to meet air quality directives, though operational costs have risen with carbon pricing under EU ETS, prompting debates on long-term viability versus energy security.^[47]

Diversification efforts and challenges

The economy of Most, located in the Ústí nad Labem region, has long been dominated by lignite mining and related energy-intensive industries, prompting diversification initiatives under the European Union's Just Transition Fund (JTF) as part of the shift away from coal. The Operational Programme Just Transition 2021-2027 allocates CZK 49.7 billion nationally, with CZK 18.8 billion directed to the Ústí nad Labem region to support economic restructuring, including investments in renewables, innovation hubs, business incubators, and workforce reskilling.^[50] A flagship project, the Green Mine initiative at the former ČSA opencast mine, aims to repurpose 45 km² of land into a mixed-use area featuring 600 MW of photovoltaics (projected to reduce CO2 emissions by 236,000 tonnes annually), aquaponics facilities, a science and industry center, and the Nové Komořany smart settlement, with an expected completion by 2029 and creation of 1,000 long-term jobs until 2050.^[12] The project's total budget is CZK 1.29 billion, funded partly by CZK 785.76 million from the JTF and the remainder from private investors including the Sev.en Group.^[12] Additional efforts draw from the national RESTART strategy, which coordinates retraining programs and alternative sector development, alongside regional plans emphasizing economic diversification through small and medium enterprise (SME) support and technology transfer from other coal regions like Moravia-Silesia.^[51] These initiatives target reskilling for approximately 700 workers via targeted trainings and aim to foster innovation in non-mining sectors such as logistics and services, building on prior post-mining reclamations in the area.^[52] Despite these measures, diversification faces significant hurdles, including substantial job displacement from mining closures; the ČSA mine alone shed 900 positions in 2024 (500 in May and 400 in June), with projections of 5,000 direct mining losses, 3,600 from power plants, and up to 10,000 indirect jobs affected across the Ústí and Karlovy Vary regions.^[12] Regional unemployment remains acute, with 8.55 job applicants per vacancy in 2023—the highest in the Czech Republic—and a 2.2% decline in jobs across Ústí nad Labem that year, exacerbating social exclusion affecting 14,200 residents (22% of Most's 63,000 population) in 2023.^[12] Several proposed green projects, such as hydrogen production in the H2 Triangle and hydrogen mobility schemes, were abandoned in 2024 due to unviable market conditions, undermining job creation promises and highlighting overreliance on unproven technologies.^[12] Further challenges stem from the preparation gaps for small-scale actors like municipalities and SMEs, which struggle to access JTF funds effectively, and concerns over public subsidies to indebted firms like Sev.en (owing CZK 1.4 billion, deferred to 2033) for reclamation work that may prioritize corporate interests over sustainable local growth.^[12]^[52] Mining's outsized role—employing 9,400 people or 11.4% of regional jobs in 2021—continues to hinder rapid pivots to high-tech or service-based economies, compounded by the area's peripheral location and historical industrial dependencies.^[12]^[53]

Controversies and Debates

Environmental impacts versus economic necessity

Lignite mining in the Most district has caused extensive environmental degradation, primarily through open-pit extraction that removes overburden and alters hydrology. Dust emissions from mining operations contribute to elevated particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) levels, exacerbating air quality issues in the Ústí nad Labem region, where annual exceedances of EU air quality limits have been recorded due to both mining dust and associated power plant emissions.^[3] Groundwater contamination arises from leachate containing heavy metals and sulfates infiltrating aquifers, while dewatering for pits depletes local water tables, leading to subsidence and reduced well yields affecting agriculture and drinking supplies.^[3] Biodiversity loss is acute, with habitat fragmentation and soil sterilization destroying ecosystems; post-mining sites in North Bohemia show recovery challenges, including invasive species dominance and limited native recolonization without intervention.^[54] Economically, lignite extraction sustains vital employment and regional output in a post-communist economy historically reliant on heavy industry. Approximately 20,000 jobs across Czech lignite mines and power plants, concentrated in the Most and Chomutov areas, support local households amid limited diversification options.^[3] Lignite-fired plants, such as those operated by ČEZ in the region, generated about 20-25% of Czech electricity in recent years, bolstering energy security and contributing to the mining sector's share in national GDP, estimated at under 1% overall but disproportionately high for the Ústí region.^[55] In Most, where the town was partially relocated in the 1970s-1990s to accommodate pits, mining remains a cornerstone, preventing deeper unemployment spikes seen in other deindustrialized areas.^[56] The tension arises from EU-driven decarbonization mandates clashing with regional dependence, as lignite's high carbon intensity—emitting roughly 1,000 g CO2/kWh—fuels calls for phase-out by 2030-2033, yet abrupt closure risks 10,000+ job losses without viable alternatives like retraining or renewables scaling to match baseload needs.^[57] Czech policy targets lignite exit by 2033, but analyses indicate coordinated regional transitions could mitigate economic fallout through just transition funds, though local stakeholders argue environmental regulations overlook causal links between mining output and poverty reduction in mining-dependent districts.^[58] Proponents of continued operations emphasize empirical trade-offs: while reclamation efforts have restored some sites to agriculture or lakes since the 1990s, full phase-out without subsidies could depress regional GDP by 5-10% short-term, per OECD projections for northwest Czechia.^[55] Critics from environmental NGOs highlight uninternalized externalities like health costs from pollution, estimated in billions of euros EU-wide, but regional data underscores mining's role in stabilizing post-1989 economic shifts absent diversified investment.^[59]

Privatization scandals and corruption allegations

The privatization of Mostecká uhelná společnost (MUS), the primary lignite mining operator in the Most district, became embroiled in fraud allegations during the late 1990s and early 2000s, as part of broader irregularities in Czech post-communist asset transfers.^[60] Managers allegedly orchestrated a scheme from 1997 to 2003, using company funds earmarked for mining site revitalization—totaling approximately 2 billion Czech crowns (CZK)—to purchase a controlling stake in MUS itself, diverting the money to Swiss bank accounts and employing a fictitious Swiss investor, the Appian Group, to obscure the transactions.^[61] This allowed the acquisition of the state's remaining shares at an undervalued price, resulting in an estimated state loss of 3.2 billion CZK (equivalent to about €135 million at the time).^[60] Investigations revealed insider trading and abuse of position, with executives channeling funds to buy shares before selling them back to the state cheaply, a tactic prosecutors described as using "the mining company's own money" to engineer the buyout.^[63] The case gained traction after Swiss authorities arrested seven suspects in 2011 for fraud and money laundering, providing evidence that propelled Czech probes forward despite earlier stalls due to evidentiary gaps.^[61] In 2016, Czech police charged seven individuals, including four former MUS managers, reviving the domestic inquiry.^[61] Legal proceedings culminated in a 2023 Prague court ruling convicting key figures: former manager Antonín Koláček received 7.5 years imprisonment and a 5-year management ban, while ex-CEO Oldřich Klimecký was sentenced to 6 years with asset confiscation; both were held liable for hundreds of millions in damages.^[60] Additional convictions included former deputy industry minister Robert Sýkora for bribery (3 years and a CZK 4.5 million fine), alongside owners Luboš Mekota, Petr Pudil, and Vasil Bobela.^[60] A parallel Swiss court in 2012 ordered jail terms for five Czechs involved, enabling potential recovery of misappropriated funds.^[64] The verdicts, under appeal, underscore systemic vulnerabilities in Czech voucher and direct-sale privatizations, where political oversight often prioritized speed over due diligence.^[60] Former Prime Minister Miloš Zeman faced questioning by anti-corruption police in February 2013 over his government's role in approving the 1999 deal, amid claims of undervaluation and illicit transfers of $150 million.^[65] Zeman defended the transaction as market-driven with no state loss, but the probe highlighted potential conflicts in executive oversight of energy sector assets.^[65] No charges resulted against him, though the episode fueled critiques of privatization-era governance, where rapid denationalization enabled managerial self-dealing without robust safeguards.^[65] Subsequent owners, including energy firms, integrated MUS operations, but the scandal eroded public trust in mining privatization outcomes.^[66]

Energy policy tensions with EU mandates

The Czech Republic's energy policy has historically prioritized lignite mining and combustion in the North Bohemian Basin, encompassing the Most district, to ensure affordable baseload electricity and district heating, with lignite accounting for approximately 25% of the country's electricity generation as of 2022.^[3] This reliance conflicts with European Union mandates under the Green Deal, which target a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 relative to 1990 levels and net-zero by 2050, implicitly accelerating coal phase-outs through mechanisms like the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and stricter industrial emissions directives.^[67] EU ETS allowance prices surged above €90 per tonne in 2022-2023, rendering many lignite-fired plants uneconomical without state aid, which Brussels has curtailed under state aid rules prohibiting subsidies for high-emission assets post-2025 unless tied to decarbonization.^[68] In response to the 2022 energy crisis triggered by reduced Russian gas supplies, the Czech government extended operations at lignite plants like those near Most (e.g., Ledvice and Tušimice) beyond initial decommissioning schedules, seeking temporary EU derogations for emissions limits under the Industrial Emissions Directive; the European Commission granted limited flexibility but emphasized no long-term exemptions, heightening tensions over national energy security versus supranational climate goals.^[69] The 2019 National Coal Commission recommended a lignite phase-out by 2038 to balance economic impacts, but the subsequent government accelerated this to 2033 in its updated National Energy and Climate Plan to align with EU targets, prompting criticism from regional stakeholders in Ústí nad Labem (including Most) for insufficient transition funding and risks to 10,000+ mining-related jobs.^[38]^[57] Further friction stems from EU Taxonomy Regulation exclusions, which bar lignite-related investments from "sustainable" labeling, limiting financing for modernization or efficiency upgrades at facilities like ČEZ's North Bohemian operations; Czech policymakers have advocated for transitional gas infrastructure as a bridge fuel, but EU criteria under the revised Gas Directive impose stringent methane and hydrogen-readiness requirements, delaying approvals and fueling domestic debates on sovereignty.^[69] A 2025 survey indicated 71% of Czech respondents viewed the Green Deal as driving disproportionate energy price hikes, reflecting broader skepticism toward mandates perceived as overlooking local dependencies on lignite for grid stability amid variable renewables.^[69] The Just Transition Fund allocates €1.1 billion to Czech coal regions like Most through 2027, conditional on verifiable phase-out milestones, yet implementation disputes persist over eligibility for non-renewable alternatives, underscoring causal trade-offs between emission reductions and economic resilience.^[67]

Demographics and Society

Population trends and migration

The population of Most, closely linked to lignite mining, grew significantly during the communist era due to job opportunities in extraction and related industries, attracting migrant workers from across Czechoslovakia. By the 1980s, the influx supported a peak population exceeding 70,000, though exact figures vary by source amid urban relocation efforts.^[70] The forced demolition and relocation of the historic city center between 1975 and 1987 displaced approximately 13,500 residents to a newly constructed satellite town, reshaping demographics and fostering a sense of community disruption that persists.^[71] Post-1990, following economic restructuring after the Velvet Revolution, population trends reversed in mining-dependent districts like Most, with an average 11% decline from 1990 to 2021 compared to non-mining areas, driven by job losses and mine closures.^[72] The broader Ústí nad Labem Region, encompassing Most, recorded a population drop of 2,113 inhabitants in the first nine months of 2023 alone, reaching 810,224, amid ongoing coal phase-out accelerating out-migration.^[73] As of 2023, Most's population hovered around 65,000, with roughly 22% residing in socially excluded localities marked by poverty and limited mobility, reflecting mining's legacy of economic stagnation and aging demographics.^[12] Migration patterns feature net internal out-migration to urban centers like Prague for better prospects, compounded by a national trend of population shrinkage in coal regions due to employment decline.^[74] In-migration includes foreign workers, primarily from Vietnam, Ukraine, and Slovakia, filling roles in remaining industries, though this has not offset overall losses; the exposed population shows higher aging rates and chronic health issues, deterring family settlement.^[75]^[76] Recent EU-mandated coal reductions have intensified these trends, prompting debates over just transition measures to stem further depopulation.^[12] Lignite mining in the Most district has been associated with elevated rates of respiratory diseases among residents and workers, primarily due to airborne dust particles and sulfur dioxide emissions from extraction and combustion processes. Studies in North Bohemia, encompassing Most, indicate that solid dust and SO2 are principal pollutants contributing to chronic bronchitis, lung cancer, and other pulmonary conditions, with mining districts exhibiting higher morbidity compared to national averages. Coal miners in the region face increased mortality from coal-workers' pneumoconiosis and related lung diseases, with lung cancer accounting for approximately 11% of deaths among affected workers.^[76]^[77]^[78] Water contamination from lignite operations exacerbates health risks, as mine drainage introduces heavy metals, iron, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into local aquifers and surface waters, often exceeding World Health Organization limits for iron and posing carcinogenic threats via ingestion or dermal contact. In the Most area, geochemical analysis reveals Fe(III)-oxyhydroxides and other mining byproducts altering sediment and water quality, potentially leading to bioaccumulation in food chains and long-term exposure risks. Noise from mining activities further contributes to annoyance and sleep disturbances among nearby populations, compounding stress-related health burdens.^[79]^[80]^[81] Socially, open-pit lignite extraction in Most necessitated the partial relocation of the city's historic center between 1975 and 1990, displacing thousands of residents and eroding community identity tied to pre-mining landmarks and architecture. This forced migration fostered "mined-out identity," where long-term inhabitants experienced grief over lost landscapes, contributing to social fragmentation and the emergence of anti-coal resistance movements. Subsidence, dust, and restricted access to contaminated water have prompted ongoing community opposition, with surveys showing differential participation in protests influenced by social networks and perceptions of inequitable benefits from mining revenues. As lignite production declines under EU decarbonization pressures, anticipated job losses—potentially concentrated in Most—threaten further demographic shifts, including out-migration and economic dependency on remediation efforts.^[70]^[82]^[3]

Community responses and adaptation

The relocation of Most's historic center, initiated by a Czechoslovak communist government resolution on March 26, 1964, entailed the systematic demolition of the medieval town from the mid-1960s through the 1980s to facilitate lignite mine expansion, with residents compelled to move to a prefabricated new settlement featuring predominantly brutalist architecture.^[2]^[12] This process displaced over 90,000 individuals across the Most region between 1949 and 1980, engendering a collective "mined-out identity" marked by loss of cultural heritage and social cohesion, which under the repressive regime suppressed overt resistance but sowed seeds for later opposition.^[83] Post-communist surveys highlight evolving community attitudes: a 2012 study of 200 residents found 54% favoring mining restrictions and renewable energy shifts, with resistance strongest in displacement-threatened locales like Horní Jiřetín, where 57% opposed extraction and 64% participated in protests or petitions, driven by factors such as high place attachment among older, educated individuals rather than direct employment ties to coal.^[83] Pro-coal sentiments persisted among mining workers, yet overall skepticism toward expansion grew, with only 14% supporting it amid awareness of environmental degradation and limited political efficacy of activism—66% of opponents doubted protests' impact on policy.^[83] Adaptation to mining decline accelerated after closures like the Ležáky mine in 1999, prompting state interventions such as the 2018 RE:START program for regional diversification and the EU Just Transition Fund's 18.8 billion CZK allocation to Ústí nad Labem (2021–2027), funding 11 projects in renewables, hydrogen, and education to offset 20,000–30,000 coal-related jobs nationwide.^[84]^[12]^[51] Local initiatives include the Green Mine reclamation at the ČSA site, targeting 1,000 positions by 2029 via 600 MW photovoltaics, aquaponics, and recreational lakes, though trade union representatives like Jaromír Franta argue such efforts prioritize ecology over viable employment, insufficient against the region's entrenched challenges.^[12] Persistent socioeconomic hurdles undermine adaptation: Most district's 2023 unemployment metrics showed 8.55 applicants per vacancy—the nation's highest—exacerbated by low education (17.9% with only primary schooling, versus 12.5% nationally) and a 22% Roma demographic facing exclusion.^[12] Residents express mixed views, with some like local advocate Kamila Rejčová framing transition as historical adaptation akin to past trade shifts, while others decry inadequate reciprocity from the state for decades of sacrifices, including demolished villages.^[12] Cross-border cooperation and tourism around reclaimed sites like Most Lake offer supplementary avenues, yet coal dependency lingers, with 11.4% of regional employment tied to mining as of recent estimates.^[12]^[85]

Culture and Landmarks

Preserved historical architecture

The historical architecture of Most has been profoundly impacted by large-scale lignite mining, which necessitated the demolition of most of the medieval-to-Baroque old town between 1975 and 1988 to accommodate open-pit extraction. Preservation efforts focused on relocating or protecting select monuments deemed culturally significant, prioritizing structural integrity over comprehensive urban conservation amid subsidence risks exceeding 10 meters in some areas.^[86]^[87] The paramount example is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Kostel Nanebevzetí Panny Marie), a late Gothic hall church initiated in 1515 and consecrated in 1517 atop a 14th-century predecessor site. Facing imminent collapse from mining-induced ground deformation, the 70-meter-long, 12,000-tonne structure—complete with its vaulted nave, ribbed ceilings, and original portal—was relocated intact 841.1 meters southeast via a custom arched rail track with a 12.3‰ gradient. The operation, executed from September 30 to October 27, 1975, by state mining engineers using hydraulic jacks and continuous rail advancement, proceeded at an average 2.16 cm per minute, costing approximately 100 million Czechoslovak crowns (equivalent to about €4 million in 2023 adjusted terms). This feat, the largest building relocation on record, earned a Guinness World Records entry and preserved the church's original masonry, including its sandstone facade and interior fresco fragments.^[86]^[88]^[87] Complementing this are the adjacent 14th-century Gothic Church of the Holy Spirit (Kostel sv. Ducha) and its attached Baroque plague hospital, constructed in 1720–1726, which escaped relocation by being outside the primary mining exclusion zone. The hospital's preserved stucco interiors and the church's preserved nave arches exemplify restrained Baroque adaptation to Gothic foundations, serving today as a cultural venue post-restoration in the 1990s. Limited Renaissance elements, such as salvaged facades from burgher houses (e.g., sgraffito-decorated portals from the 16th century), have been reconstructed or archived at the Most Regional Museum, which documents over 200 documented artifacts from the razed center dating to 1277. These efforts, driven by state heritage mandates under communist-era planning, highlight causal trade-offs between resource extraction—yielding 500 million tonnes of coal from the North Bohemian Basin—and cultural retention, with ongoing monitoring for micro-seismic stability.^[89]^[90]

Cultural institutions and events

The Regional Museum and Gallery in Most, established in its current form as an oblastní institution under the Ústí nad Labem Region, maintains permanent exhibitions on local geology, natural history, and social developments, including artifacts from the area's lignite mining heritage and Baroque-era collections such as painted passion panels.^[91]^[92] The museum, tracing its origins to 1888 initiatives by local figures like mayor Carl von Schey, houses over regional specimens and temporary exhibits on themes like garnet jewelry sets, one of the rarest in the Czech Republic.^[93]^[94] The Municipal Theatre in Most, originally opened in 1911 as a secession-style venue and rebuilt in a modern hexagonal design in 1985 as the Theatre of the Working People, hosts professional productions ranging from classical plays to contemporary works by Czech and international authors.^[95]^[96] The ensemble performs around 200 shows annually, including operas, dramas, and musicals, with facilities featuring a rotating stage platform for versatile staging.^[95] Complementing this, the Diversity Theatre (Divadlo rozmanitostí) specializes in puppetry and family-oriented performances, such as adaptations of Gulliver's Travels and fairy tales like Goldilocks.^[97] Cultural events in Most emphasize local heritage and outdoor settings, particularly around Hněvín Castle hill and the post-mining Lake Most. The Summer Theatre on Hněvín (Divadelní léto na Hněvíně) features open-air performances during July and August, drawing on the site's historical fortifications for dramatic backdrops.^[95] The Olympic Festival, held lakeside, promotes youth sports and physical activity through demonstrations and workshops, aligning with national efforts to motivate exercise amid the town's industrial legacy.^[98] Annual gallery exhibits and theater seasons, including nominations for Thálie Awards like that of actor Marcel Rošetzký in 2025, sustain community engagement despite the region's economic challenges from mining subsidence.^[95]^[91]

Tourism and modern developments

Tourism in Most primarily revolves around its distinctive historical and industrial heritage, supplemented by motorsport events. The Hněvín Castle, a Neo-Gothic reconstruction completed in the 19th century on the site of a medieval fortress, dominates the skyline and attracts visitors for its lookout tower providing expansive views of the Most Basin, Krušné Mountains, and open-pit mining operations. The site includes gardens, a café, and exhibition spaces highlighting regional history, with accessibility via hiking trails or vehicle; renovations to its restaurant and hotel facilities were underway as of 2025 to enhance visitor amenities.^[99]^[100] The Autodrom Most, a 4.212 km purpose-built racing circuit opened in 1983 on reclaimed quarry land, serves as a major draw for adrenaline-seeking tourists and motorsport enthusiasts. It hosts high-profile events including the World Superbike Championship, offering track experiences, safe driving centers, and proximity to the city center, which integrates it into broader regional tourism circuits. While precise visitor figures for Most remain limited, the circuit's events contribute to seasonal influxes, positioning the town as a niche destination within the Ústí nad Labem Region rather than a mass-tourism hub dominated by Prague.^[101]^[102] Modern developments in Most emphasize post-mining regeneration and urban revitalization following the town's partial relocation in the 1980s–1990s to accommodate lignite extraction. A key project involved the 1975–1979 relocation of the 14th-century Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, transported 9 km via innovative hydraulic jacking and rail methods to preserve it from subsidence, now standing as an architectural landmark symbolizing adaptive engineering. In 2019, the city allocated 25 million CZK from the Karel Komárek Transformations Foundation to renovate Central Park, transforming it into a enhanced green space with improved landscaping and recreational features to foster community and tourist appeal. These initiatives, alongside infrastructure upgrades like the autodrom's expansions, aim to diversify the economy through cultural preservation, eco-tourism, and sustainable land reclamation amid declining coal dependency.^[103]

References

[1]
The town of Most - i:Mostecko
Most is found in the northwest part of the Czech Republic between the Krušné Mountains and the Czech Central Highlands.
[2]
60 years since communist regime passed resolution to destroy ...
Mar 25, 2024 · On 26 March 1964, the Czechoslovak government decided to liquidate the old city of Most to make way for new coal mines and apartments to house the miners.<|separator|>
[3]
Lignite in the Czech Republic and Germany: controversies and ...
Mar 31, 2021 · The activity of lignite-fired mines, power plants and heating plants in both countries has caused a number of controversies, including environmental ones.
[4]
Historie města Mostu - Město Most
Nov 8, 2009 · V průběhu 14. století mělo královské město Most všechny předpoklady k dalšímu ekonomickému rozvoji, jeho pozice byla posilována samotnými ...
[5]
Most - Historie obce
### Summary of Most's History (Origins to Medieval Times)
[6]
[PDF] The Black and White Gold of Czech Industrialization (1841-1863)
Two major types of coal were mined in the Czech lands – black (anthracite) and brown (lignite).
[7]
On the Industrial History of the Czech Republic - ERIH
Mines and iron works were also established early on to exploit the rich deposits of coal and iron ore: centred in Bohemia on the cities of Liberec (Reichenberg) ...
[8]
History of the place - Green Mine
Surface mining of brown coal at the turn of the 19th century in a period photograph. Picture from the collections of the Regional Museum and Gallery in Most.
[9]
[PDF] Spontaneous succession in North Bohemian post-mining landscape
At the end of the 19th century, mining already began to have a significant impact on the landscape, and mainly after 1948, surface mining began to be preferred ...Missing: history | Show results with:history
[10]
Most, the Town that Moved: Coal, Communists and the 'Gypsy ...
Aug 5, 2025 · Infamously, the entire historic centre of Most was obliterated in order to expose over 85 million tons of coal. Planners envisioned a new city ...
[11]
[PDF] Most, the Town that Moved: Coal, Communists and the ʻGypsy ...
Most. Already in the late 1950s, expanding mines began to swallow towns and villages in the Most region, with displaced residents moving to new housing.
[12]
Just Transition: Mission Impossible? Chapter Two: Most, Czechia
Apr 29, 2025 · The development of the opencast mine to its giant dimenstions dates back to the 1950s, when the shortage of coal needed to be made up for to ...
[13]
[PDF] A Brief History Originally a royal town Most used to be located ...
During this period the whole historical town of Most, apart from the part called Zahražany, was destroyed to make way for the coal mining industry.
[14]
(PDF) Privatisation and the Regional Restructuring of Coal Mining in ...
In book: Theorizing Transition: The Political Economy of Post-Communist Transformations (pp.218-239); Chapter: Privatisation and the Regional Restructuring ...
[15]
Penta raised its offer in privatization of Severoceske doly to CZK ...
Jan 5, 2004 · Czech-Slovak financial group Penta announced that it increased its offered price in privatization of Severoceske doly from CZK 5.4bn to CZK ...<|separator|>
[16]
[PDF] CEZ Group Annual Report 2005 - AnnualReports.com
Apr 13, 2006 · In December 2005, CEZ Group became stronger by acquiring Severočeské doly a.s. Early 2005 saw completion of the acquisition of three Bulgarian ...
[17]
[PDF] The curse of coal or peripherality? Energy transition ... - geonika.cz
Dec 31, 2022 · 2: The decline of the coal mining industry after change in the communist regime in 1989. Sources: Czech Statistical Office (2012): Historical ...
[18]
Mine closure and resuming production options - ScienceDirect.com
The period after 1989 was marked by the reduction of mining and mine closures. In 2017, the Government of the Czech Republic took action concerning strategic ...Mine Closure And Resuming... · Introduction · Resuming Mining In...
[19]
GPS coordinates of Most, Czech Republic. Latitude
Most is the capital city of the Most District, situated between the Central Bohemian Uplands and the Ore Mountains, approximately 77 km (48 mi) northwest of ...
[20]
Quality parameters of lignite of the North Bohemian Basin in the ...
Geological setting. The NBB is the most important lignite basin in the Czech Republic (Fig. 1). It contains more than 6 billion tons of lignite reserves. The ...
[21]
[PDF] The geological structure of the crystalline basement below the North ...
The North Bohemian brown coal basin between the towns of Chomutov, Most and Zatec is the largest area of Tertiary deposits in North and West Bohemia, smaller ...
[22]
(PDF) North Bohemian Basin - ResearchGate
Jan 10, 2016 · The upper part of the Most Formation comprises lacustrine silty clays, deltaic and alluvial sands, and a high, mineralized seam at Lom, several ...
[23]
[PDF] Early Miocene freshwater and swamp ecosystems of the Most Basin ...
The North Bohemian Brown Coal Basin, i.e., the Most. Basin in the present geological terminology, is the larg- est freshwater sedimentary body of Neogene age in ...
[24]
Combustion Metamorphism in the Most Basin, Czech Republic
The Most Basin (dominantly of Neogene age) situated in the NW of the Czech Republic hosts at least 65 occurrences of CM rocks up to several km 2 in size.
[25]
Sorbent Mineralogy in the Most Basin and Their Utilization for ...
The Most Basin (formerly North Bohemian Brown Coal Basin) represents the largest supply of brown coal in the Czech Republic. The surface brown coal quarries ...<|separator|>
[26]
Weather Most & temperature by month - Climate Data
The mean temperature prevailing in the city of Most is recorded as 9.1 °C | 48.4 °F, according to statistical data. The rainfall here is around 608 mm | 23.9 ...
[27]
Most, Czech Republic weather in January: average temperature ...
The weather in Most in January is really cold and slightly windy, with average highs of 33°F (1°C) and lows of 23°F (-5°C).
[28]
The Climate of the Czech Republic - Blue Green Atlas
The Czech Republic has a Central European moderate and transitional climate. The climate is temperate with warm summers, and cold, cloudy, and humid winters.
[29]
Ecological Regions Of The Czech Republic - World Atlas
The mixed forests are a terrain of vast plains at the center, upland areas to the south and hilly moraines with lakes to the north. Most of the region lies ...
[30]
Ohře River | Bohemia, Germany, Czech Republic | Britannica
It flows south and west, forming a wide arc for about 225 miles in the Czech Republic to its confluence with the Vltava at Mělník and is joined 18 miles ...
[31]
Ohře (River) - Mapy.com
River ; length: 246.6 km ; watershed area: 5,614 km² ; watercourse headwater: Fichtelgebirge ; mouth of the watercourse: Elbe ; discharge: 38 m³/s.
[32]
Czech Republic Geography - CountryReports
Geographic Coordinates, 49 45 N, 15 30 E ; Terrain, Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in ...
[33]
Czechia - Country Profile - Convention on Biological Diversity
The Czech Republic is an inland country in Central Europe. Its dominant physical elements are mountains and water systems.
[34]
[PDF] The environmental mining limits in the North Bohemian Lignite Region
Apart from 106 municipalities, including the 650-year-old royal city of Most, hundreds of square kilometres of cultural landscape were destroyed, drainage and ...
[35]
Former mine in North Bohemia filled to create country's largest pit lake
Sep 15, 2020 · With a surface of over 300 hectares, Lake Most is the Czech Republic's largest pit lake to date. The project, which cost some CZK 2.5 billion, ...
[36]
Spoil Heaps From Brown Coal Mining: Technical Reclamation ...
Aug 5, 2003 · The spoil heaps are located in the northwestern part of the Czech Republic and represent ages between 0 and 45 years. Ordination analysis ( ...
[37]
The dynamics of landscape pattern changes in mining areas
Dec 30, 2019 · In the Czech Republic alone, more than 1,400 km 2 of land is devastated by coal mining (approximately 2% of the country's area), while the ...
[38]
Czech Republic | powering transition in Europe - Euracoal
In the central part of the North Bohemian brown coal basin, brown coal is extracted by two mining companies: VRŠANSKÁ UHELNÁ (VUAS) and SEVERNÍ ENERGETICKÁ ( ...
[39]
Vrsany Coal Mine - Global Energy Monitor - GEM.wiki
Jun 24, 2025 · Coal mining in Czech Republic continues to decline, with a 20% decrease as of August 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The latest ...
[40]
Severočeské doly - Skupina ČEZ
Severočeské doly operates mining activities in the Severočeská brown coal basin in two separate localities - Tušimice and Bílina.Missing: Most North Bohemian
[41]
Sev.en Energy (Czech Republic)
Operates the Chvaletice and Kladno lignite power plants, the " dirtiest" plant at Počerady and the ČSA and Vršany lignite mines.
[42]
Coal production in Czechia down by 15 percent year-on-year
Feb 27, 2024 · Coal production in Czechia recorded a significant drop in 2023. A total of 30.04 million tonnes of lignite and hard coal were mined last year, ...Missing: companies | Show results with:companies
[43]
Czech coal production continues to decline
Nov 8, 2024 · Coal production in Czechia continues to decline, with output having fallen by 20% by the end of August compared to the same period in 2023.Missing: companies | Show results with:companies
[44]
https://www.statista.com/statistics/348483/number-of-enterprises-in-the-mining-of-lignite-sector-in-the-czech-republic/
[45]
Czech Republic to shut final hard-coal mine by 2026 - Energies Media
Oct 7, 2025 · The government of the Czech Republic has announced its plans to shut down the nation's last remaining coal mine near the border with Poland.Missing: methods 2023-2025
[46]
Fossil Power Plants | Skupina ČEZ
Prunerov I, 4 x 110 MW · December 1995 ; Prunerov II, 5 x 210 MW · August 1996 ; Pocerady, 2 x 200 MW · November 1994 ; Pocerady, 3 x 200 MW · November 1996 ; Ledvice ...
[47]
Energy generation | Skupina ČEZ
The company operates the Počerady combined cycle power plant in Czech ... By 2040 and 2050, the recently modernized power plants in Tušimice, Prunéřov ...
[48]
Strategy | Skupina ČEZ
The upgrade of Tušimice Power Station was completed in June, the construction of a new, Czech coal-fired power source in Ledvice is continuing in accordance ...
[49]
Sev.en Energy to be new owner of Pocerady power plant as of 2024
In this respect, Pocerady differs from power stations Prunerov, Tusimice and Ledvice that burn CEZ's coal, he added. In 2017, Tykac offered Kc10bn for Pocerady.
[50]
[PDF] 1.3 Date: 26/09/2022 ENGLISH TRANSLATION. ONLY THE CZECH ...
Sep 26, 2022 · o establishing a decentralised network of smaller innovation hubs; o establishing and developing business incubators;. • reuse of the territory ...
[51]
Czech Republic: The RE:START Strategy To Coordinate Three ...
Apr 1, 2021 · The phase out of the Czech Republic's coal mining sector is driven primarily by economic concerns, rather than climate concerns. The domestic ...Missing: Most | Show results with:Most
[52]
Support to the Implementation of the Just Transition in the Czech ...
Dec 5, 2024 · The Commission supports the implementation of the Just Transition Fund (JTF) in three Czech regions: Moravia-Silesia, Ústí nad Labem and Karlovy Vary.
[53]
[PDF] TRANSITION OF BUSINESS SECTOR IN THE COAL REGION ÚSTÍ ...
The region of Ústí nad Labem faces a vast challenge with the transition to a low-carbon economy because of its high dependence on the lignite industry. The ...
[54]
Perspectives of lignite post-mining landscapes under changing ...
May 10, 2023 · However, competing aspects on land demand and negative environmental impacts such as biodiversity loss, change of soil properties ...
[55]
[PDF] OECD Economic Surveys: Czech Republic 2023 (EN)
Mar 7, 2023 · phase-out of coal in the Czech Republic will directly affect jobs in mining and energy production, primarily in the Northwest regions of the ...
[56]
[PDF] The Mineral Industry of Czechia in 2019
in 2019, czechia was estimated to be the 4th-ranked producer of kaolin (8.6% of world output), the 10th-ranked producer of feldspar (2% of world output), ...<|separator|>
[57]
Czechia wants to phase out coal. But is natural gas the solution?
Mar 5, 2025 · The Opatovice lignite-fired power plant in the Czech Republic has been supplying several towns, including Pardubice, with district heating for ...
[58]
Phasing out from lignite – what does that mean for the Czech power ...
The German Coal Commission proposed to close all hard coal- and lignite-fired power plants by 2038 at the latest, and the German parliament adopted this plan. A ...
[59]
[PDF] HEAL Briefing - Lignite coal - health effects and recommendations ...
When the whole life-cycle process is considered, lignite results in relatively higher air pollutant emissions, resettlements and changes in the soil and water ...Missing: biodiversity loss
[60]
Czech court jails former top executives over mine privatisation scandal
Jun 13, 2023 · Both men were found guilty of fraud and abuse of business position and were also handed a 5-year ban from being in any company's management.
[61]
Police charge seven in Mostecka privatization fraud
Jan 29, 2016 · ... privatization of the Czech Republic's largest coal mining ... New TI study finds bribery during road checks most common form of corruption that ...
[62]
https://english.radio.cz/czech-police-charge-former-mostecka-uheln%C3%A1-managers-8343289
[63]
Swiss court orders jail for five Czechs over privatization deal | Reuters
The court ruled that the managers had conspired to gain control of Czech lignite miner Mostecka Uhelna Spolecnost (MUS) from 1997 to 2003, using the firm's own ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
[64]
Czechs can seek return of funds in MUS coal mine privatisation
Dec 29, 2017 · Prosecutors said they used the mining company's own money to buy its stock before buying the remaining stake cheaply from the Czech government.Missing: brown | Show results with:brown
[65]
Zeman questioned over coal mining company privatisation
May 13, 2013 · The country's president, Miloš Zeman, was questioned by the Czech anti-corruption police in February over the allegedly fraudulent privatisation ...Missing: Most lignite
[66]
Ministry broadens charges in alleged coal-mining privatisation ...
A number of former managers and owners are facing charges of insider trading and fraud over their part of the privatisation in 1999. They are alleged to have ...Missing: privatization scandal details
[67]
Czechia and the European Green Deal - Publications Office of the EU
May 16, 2023 · The EU's goal is to cut its net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. For Czechia, this means reducing emissions by 26% by 2030 in sectors outside the EU ...
[68]
Czechia exposed to fossil electricity price shocks - Ember
Czech electricity prices have soared more than 140% since August 2020, driven by increased costs of fossil gas and hard coal imports.
[69]
Most Czechs believe EU Green Deal will lead to increase in energy ...
Jan 10, 2025 · PRAGUE – The Green Deal is contributing to disproportionate increases in energy costs, according to 71% of Czechs surveyed for a new study ...Missing: tensions | Show results with:tensions
[70]
Living on coal: Mined-out identity, community displacement and ...
This paper provides new insights about the factors shaping social acceptance of and opposition to coal mining.
[71]
Coal, Communism and Borders: Professor Glassheim on the Czech ...
Nov 1, 2016 · The city of Most in the Czech Republic was a unique case of socialist urban planning during the communist regime. Old Most was forcibly ...Missing: 19th century
[72]
Differences in population change in the period 1990-2021...
The paper presents results of an international comparative survey with local communities living in three coal mining areas in the Czech Republic, Germany, and ...Missing: trends | Show results with:trends
[73]
Czech Population Increased In 2023, Driven By Migration - Brno Daily
Dec 12, 2023 · ... Usti nad Labem and Moravia-Silesia regions. In the Usti nad Labem Region, the population decreased by 2,113 to 810,224 in the first nine ...
[74]
With coal forever? Conflicted attitudes of residents in coal mining ...
The paper presents results of an international comparative survey with local communities living in three coal mining areas in the Czech Republic, Germany, and ...Missing: tensions | Show results with:tensions
[75]
[PDF] Employees Beyond Borders - Stowarzyszenie Interwencji Prawnej
Most foreign workers in the Ústí nad Labem region come from Vietnam, Ukraine and. Slovakia. 4. Information on the situation of migrants quoted after national ...<|separator|>
[76]
The Effect of Brown Coal Mining on the Environment and Health of ...
The exposed population is also aging, which is a typical trend for the entire Czech Republic in recent years, and a high chronic morbidity rate occurs in it ...
[77]
Impact of Air Pollution on the Health of the Population in Parts of the ...
Sep 4, 2020 · Mining districts in Northern Bohemia, the northern region in the Czech Republic, were in the late 1980s one of the most air polluted regions ...
[78]
Mortality in Miners with Coal-Workers' Pneumoconiosis in the Czech ...
Mar 7, 2017 · Lung cancer was the reported cause of death in 11% of deceased persons (see Table 3). The third most frequent cause of death in coal miners ...Missing: North | Show results with:North
[79]
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169772225001706
[80]
Geochemical signatures of lignite mining products in sediments ...
Mar 15, 2021 · Precipitated Fe(III)-oxy-hydroxides are likely the most striking consequences of lignite mining due to their reddish colours, as well as in ...
[81]
[PDF] Noise annoyance from mining in the Czech Republic - ICBEN
Mining is one of the main industrial sources of noise and it is a significant long-term source of negative effects on the immediate surroundings.
[82]
Social networks, differential participation, and local opposition to ...
This paper explores the role of social networks for participation in opposition to coal mining in the Czech Republic.
[83]
(PDF) Living on coal: Mined-out identity, community displacement ...
Aug 5, 2025 · PDF | This paper provides new insights about the factors shaping social acceptance of and opposition to coal mining.
[84]
Government programme gives hope to Czech mining regions
Nov 28, 2018 · The Czech RE:START programme is a unique attempt by a government in central and eastern Europe to help coal regions develop in alternative ways.
[85]
Economic Development of an Area Burdened by the Surface Mining ...
The article deals with an analysis of the economic development of an area which has been burdened with the surface mining of brown coal over a long period. It ...
[86]
Kostel Nanebevzetí Panny Marie v Mostě - Město Most
Dec 3, 2009 · Po obloukové dráze nakonec kostel zdolal cestu dlouhou 841 metrů průměrnou rychlostí 2,16 centimetru za minutu. Přesun kostela je zapsán do ...
[87]
Čtyřicet let od rekordního přesunu kostela. Ustoupil těžbě uhlí skoro ...
Oct 27, 2015 · Skoro půl tisíciletí starý kostel musel za pomoci speciálních kolejí a hydrauliky urazit trasu 841 metrů, jinak by padl za oběť těžbě uhlí - tak ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[88]
Od unikátního přesunu kostela v Mostě uplynulo 45 let
Přesun mohutné sakrální stavby začal 30. září a byl dokončen až 27. října 1975. Pečlivá příprava, plánování a samotné stěhování si vyžádalo značnou sumu peněz.
[89]
Historie - kostel Nanebevzetí Panny Marie v Mostě
Při likvidaci starého města Mostu z důvodu těžby uhlí byl kostel přesunut v roce 1975 do blízkosti barokního špitálu s gotickým kostelem sv. Ducha. Stěhování ...Missing: Mikuláše | Show results with:Mikuláše
[90]
Krásu hledejte i doma - 83. Přesun pětisetletého kostela v Mostě ...
Apr 11, 2024 · Proslulost získal především v roce 1975, kdy byl přesunut po kolejích 841 metrů, aby byl zachráněn z města, které se chystalo být srovnáno se ...
[91]
Muzeum - Most
Mostecké muzeum a galerie Vstupné O nás Barokní pašijové malované desky 13. 3.. Oblastní muzeum a galerie v Mostě.Výstavy a expoziceKontaktyVstupnéVýstavyO organizaci
[92]
Oblastní muzeum a galerie v Mostě - Kudy z nudy
Aug 24, 2024 · Oblastní muzeum a galerie Most. Čsl. armády 1360 434 01 Most. Tel.: +420 476 442 111; Email: info@omgm.cz; Email: recepce@omgm.cz; Facebook ...
[93]
Muzeum - Město Most
Aug 9, 2012 · Vznik mosteckého muzea se datuje do roku 1888, ale sama myšlenka je mnohem starší. Zásluhu na zřízení měl tehdejší starosta města Carl von ...
[94]
Regional Museum in Most - Czech-American TV
... Most Museum since 1900. The garnet jewelry set, which is one of the rarest jewelries in the Czech Republic, is in the center of the exhibition. According to ...
[95]
Městské divadlo v Mostě
NENECHTE SI UJÍT! KDO SE BOJÍ VIRGINIE WOOLFOVÉ? 30. října v Divadle rozmanitostí. · UZAVŘENÍ POKLADNY 27.10.! · MARCEL ROŠETZKÝ V UŽŠÍ NOMINACI NA CENU THÁLIE.Program | Říjen 2025 · Divadelní léto na Hněvíně · Kontakty · Naši furianti
[96]
Town Theatre in Most
The theatre was opened in the year 1985 as Divadlo pracujících (Theatre of the Working People) in Most and has had the name Most Town Theatre since the year ...
[97]
Divadlo rozmanitostí Most
Divadlo rozmanitostí · Gulliverovy cesty · Gulliverovy cesty · Ztracený cirkus · Zlatovláska · Maxipes Fík · FESTIVAL PRO ZAVĚŠENOU VSTUPENKU · ZKOUŠÍME: JÁ, RACEK.Divadlo Stodola, Sivice - SEN · Program Divadla rozmanitostí · Srpen 2025Missing: Republic | Show results with:Republic
[98]
The Olympic Festival will be held at Lake Most. The aim is to ...
The biggest sporting event in the Czech Republic will return to a lake-side venue, this time in the town of Most.
[99]
Hněvín Castle - Hrad Hněvín
Hněvín Castle offers a lookout tower, views of the region, a unique atmosphere, and a fun experience for everyone, with a view from the foothills of the Ore ...
[100]
Hněvín castle - i:Mostecko
Hněvín castle is a landmark with panoramic views, a view-tower, and a restaurant. It has a replica built in the 19th century, and is open 9:00-18:00.
[101]
Visit Most | WSBK Autodrom Most | WSBKMost.com
Rating 4.9 (89,442) With its friendly atmosphere and a blend of modern and historic attractions, Most is a great place to experience Czech culture and motorsport in one trip.Missing: tourism | Show results with:tourism
[102]
Autodrome - i:Mostecko
On the site of a the former Vrbenský quarry a racing circuit was built in Most. In its immediate vicinity is the Centre for Safe Driving called “Polygon Most”.
[103]
The Central Park in Most will be transformed, thanks to funds from ...
Feb 21, 2019 · The city has obtained a grant of 25 million crowns from the Karel Komárek Transformations Foundation for the renovation and will begin preparing ...