By the end of this year, the last active hard coal mine in the Czech Republic, located in the Zaolzie region near the Polish border, will cease operations. The closure marks the symbolic end of coal mining in the country — an industry that for decades shaped not only the Czech economy but also its cultural and social landscape, particularly in regions historically linked to heavy industry and energy production.

The decision to shut down the mine stems primarily from the growing unprofitability of coal extraction. Rising production costs, shrinking domestic demand for coal, and the EU’s energy transition policies have all accelerated the decline of the sector. In recent years, Czech authorities and the state-owned mining company faced mounting financial losses, making continued operation economically unsustainable.

The closure also brings an end to cross-border industrial cooperation, particularly with Polish mining and service companies that provided technology, labor, and expertise to the Czech coal sector. For decades, Polish firms were involved in supplying equipment and offering technical support to Czech mines, especially in the Zaolzie area where Polish communities have historically lived. The shutdown will thus have ripple effects on regional economies on both sides of the border, particularly in Silesia.

To mitigate the social consequences, miners who lose their jobs will receive severance packages equivalent to their average annual earnings. The Czech government has also pledged to support retraining programs and stimulate new employment opportunities, especially in the renewable energy and service sectors. Still, for many local communities, the loss of the mine represents not just the disappearance of a workplace but also the end of a long-standing industrial tradition that defined the region’s identity for generations.

The closure of the Zaolzie mine is part of a broader European shift away from coal. Across Central Europe, governments are facing the difficult balance between environmental commitments, energy security, and regional employment. In the Czech Republic — as in Poland, where coal still plays a major role — the transition toward cleaner energy sources remains a complex and politically sensitive process. Yet the end of the Czech hard coal industry sends a clear message: the coal era in Central Europe is drawing to a close, and the region must now redefine its energy and economic future in the decades to come.