Coal news and updates

Serbian state-owned Resavica starts open-pit drilling at Soko coal mine after April blast

January 31 (SeeNews) - Serbian state-owned company Resavica has started open-pit drilling at Soko coal mine in the south of the country, near the city of Sokobanja, which will enable production until all conditions for safe underground exploitation are met following an explosion in April, the energy ministry said on Tuesday.

“Maintaining the continuity of production at the Soko mine will ensure greater financial stability of the company, making it less dependent on subsidies. Also, miners who worked in underground exploitation will have the opportunity to return to work in a safe environment," energy minister Dubravka Djedovic said, as quoted in a press release.

Underground coal production was suspended in April 2022 after eight miners were killed in an explosion.

The open-pit mine has the capacity to produce 300,000 tonnes of coal, added Djedovic.