Czechoslovak energy balance and its prospectives

Currently, Czechoslovakia imports 98.5% of oil consumed, 93% of natural gas, 9% of coal and 5.2% of electric power. On the other hand, it exports 9% of the domestic production of coal, mainly of bituminous coking coal and of coke. In contrast to the world balance in which the share of coal in power consumption amounts to about 20%, in Czechoslovakia the ratio was 60% to the end of the '70's. Since the beginning of the '70's, nuclear power has become the decisive power source for covering the increased power consumption, and in future years it should cover the entire growth of electric power consumption. In 1995, more electric power should be produced by nuclear plants than by coal-fired plants. Structural changes are described in detail of power sources as are the main trends of their rational utilization. The questions are also discussed of social and economic effectiveness of the orientation to nuclear power in the Czechoslovak situation. (Z.M.). 1 fig., 7 tabs