Brown coal reserves to last for 18 years

The Czech Republic’s supplies of brown coal will only last for another 18 years, according to the industry research institute. According to the annual report of the Brown Coal Research Institute, the reserves amount to 846 million tonnes amid current mining limits. Another five billion tonnes, equal to the total amount mined in the past, is available but inaccessible due to current restrictions and unprofitability. The amount of brown coal that can be mined under current conditions is running out, which mining companies say will impact smaller consumers – households and heating companies – the most. Ecologists fear that raising limits would lead to a new mining boom, however, and say the consumer impact would be mitigated by restricting export. At present some 83% of the country’s brown coal goes to power plants.