The Ministry of the Environment has summarized the progress so far in distributing subsidies to support the transformation of coal regions in the Czech Republic. After approximately a year of the subsidy program's operation, it has announced calls worth more than 30 billion CZK, which is more than two-thirds of the total funds allocated from European funds.

“By the end of the year, the ministry should decide on granting subsidies worth 10 billion CZK,” said Minister of the Environment Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL).

European subsidies from the program are directed to the Moravian-Silesian, Karlovy Vary, and Ústí regions, which are dealing with the transformation of regional economies that have been long connected to coal mining.

In total, the Czech Republic has about 41 billion CZK in the Just Transition operational program. So far, the ministry has announced calls worth 30.2 billion CZK, with regions applying for over 20 billion CZK. The ministry currently has 32 strategic projects on record.

Most of the applications have come from the Moravian-Silesian region, where funding has already been approved for projects such as the Ostrava-based "Black Cube" project, which is set to become a center for science and digitalization in the region as well as the new home of the science library. Some previously planned projects have been canceled, such as the construction of an electric vehicle battery factory at the site of the Prunéřov brown coal power plant in the Chomutov district.

Next year, in its upcoming calls, the ministry plans to focus on the development of hydrogen infrastructure, brownfield sites, strengthening social stability, and supporting employment, according to Hladík.

The development of hydrogen technologies has already made important strides in the three regions. Earlier this year, their representatives signed a memorandum of cooperation on creating "hydrogen valleys" (regional hydrogen ecosystems) and preparing further parts of the hydrogen economy.

The Just Transition subsidy program is intended to bring new job opportunities to coal regions, support small and medium-sized businesses, invest in research and development, educate both children and adults, and restore areas affected by black and brown coal mining.

Photo source - BusinessInfo.cz and the Ministry of the Environment
Text source - ČTK and the Ministry of the Environment