Kolubara Mine Complex
| This article is part of the Global Coal Mine Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor. |
| Sub-articles: |
| Related-articles: |
The Kolubara Mine Complex is a network of SURFACE coal mines near Kalenic, Serbia.[1]
As of 2023, it consists of Kolubara Field D and E Coal Mine, Kolubara Field G Coal Mine and Tamnava-West Coal Mine. It appeared that previously active Kolubara Field B coal mine ceased producing in 2022. The proposed new Radjlevo coal mine is delayed.
Location
The photo below shows the exact location of the Kolubara Mine Complex and operating pits in Serbia.
Background
The Kolubara Mine Complex is the largest producer of coal in Serbia, accounting for around 75% of Serbia's lignite production (as of 2020).[2] 52% of Serbia's electricity was produced from coal generating from the Kolubara basin (as of 2019).[3]
As of 2023, it consists of Kolubara Field D and E Coal Mine, Kolubara Field G Coal Mine and Tamnava-West Coal Mine. It appeared that previously active Kolubara Field B coal mine ceased producing in 2022. The proposed new Radjlevo coal mine is delayed.
The Kolubara mining basin is located in the central – west part of Serbia, south-west of Belgrade city centre. The 600 square kilometre basin is located in the western part of Šumadija, between Rudovci to the east, Koceljeva to the west, Stepojevac to the north and Slovac to the south.[2]
As of 2020, coal excavation area covered about 130 km2 with 52 km2 activated so far. As of 2020, the total area currently taken by mining is 37.4 km2, of which Field D - 22.00 km2, Field B - 4.20 km2, Field G - 0.51 km2 and Tamnava West- 10.70 km2.[4]
The coal reserves amount to 2.2 billion tonnes of lignite in total. The coal is mined in the basin from the end of 19th century, but the turning point in coal production came in 1952 when the first pit Field A was opened.
The complex is owned and operated by Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD, a state-owned entity. Lignite is supplied by rail to the Kolubara B power station, TPP Nikola Tesla Power Plant, and Morava power station.[2]
Overall, the complex has been producing 29-30Mt over 2015-2021, but production declined to 26.5Mt in 2021[5] and 24.7Mt in 2022[6]. It appeared that in 2021 there were issues with coal quality from Kolubara which created problems for the power plants. The coal contained an excessive amount of soil, but also ash, sand and clay, which resulted in lower electricity generation in 2021 with similar total amount of coal. One of the reasons is that coal from the largest Tamnava-West Coal Mine is already mixed with soil and it is almost impossible to separate it.[7]
Project Details
- Owner: Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd AD
- Parent Company: Government of the Republic of Serbia
- Location: near Kalenic, Serbia
- GPS coordinates: 44.482913, 20.244569 (exact)
- Mine status: Operating
- Start year:
- Mineable reserves: 2.1 billion tonnes[3]
- Coal type: Lignite
- Mine type: Surface
- Mine depth: 100 m[8]
- Production: 30 million tonnes (2020)[1][9], 26.5 million tonnes (2021)[5], 24.7 million tonnes (2022)[6]
- Number of employees: 10,169[1]
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bankwatch, The Great Coal Jobs Fraud, Report, June 2018, page 40-41.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Euracoal,Serbia, Country Profile, accessed September 2020
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 A new coal mine opens in Kolubara, Serbia Energy News, October 21, 2019
- ↑ "Coal region in Serbia selected for the TRACER project: Kolubara coal mining and power generation region". tracer-h2020.eu. 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 "EPS 2021 Technical Report" (PDF). https://www.eps.rs. 2022.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ↑ 6.0 6.1 "EPS Technical report 2022" (PDF). www.eps.rs. 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "The Fiscal Council estimates that EPS will make a loss of around 400 million euros in the coming winters as well (Translated)". https://www-politika-rs. April 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ EUROPEAN BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT, "COMPLIANCE REVIEW REPORT: EPS KOLUBARA ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT," April, 2012
- ↑ Annual Report, EPS, 2021
