Social coal to stay

So-called social coal mining will continue to be a source of fuel for energy production in the coming decade with an option to continue till 2035. The Ministry of Economy's proposal was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday. Expanding electricity production using domestic coal sources provides the guarantee of secured supplies. 'Besides that, maintaining employment and social order is no smaller a reason, especially in the current situation,' the Ministry argues, using the economic downturn as a justification for subsidized mining. The so-called 'general economic interest of the state in electricity production using domestic coal' has been invoked since 2005. Since then, some 8.7 TWh of power has been produced. The projection for this year is approximately 1.9 GWh. The Novaky-based coal power plant has a strategic position not only in basic power supply but also helps regulate the fluctuations in power supplies in the national grid, the Ministry emphasizes in its paper. (authors)