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The Zivojno coal mine is a proposed underground and surface coal mine near Bitola, North Macedonia.
The mine, an extension of the Brod-Gneotino coal mine, will provide lignite to the Bitola power station.[1]
In March 2022, despite North Macedonia's pledge to phase out coal, the project was nominated for EU funding under the Economic and Investment Plan.[2] As of early 2023, excavation has begun with a plan to produce 1 million tonnes within the first year of operations.[3]
Location
The satellite photo below shows the location of the proposed mine site near Bitola, North Macedonia.[1]
Background
The Zivojno mine would be an expansion of the Brod-Gneotino coal mine and produce 1 million tonnes through underground operations and 2 million tonnes from surface operations.[1]
In 2021, the director of AD ESM, a state owned company, announced that they are taking concrete steps to open the mine.[4]
Local environmental groups criticized the announcements. As The Center for Research and Environmental Information "Eco-consciousness" put it: "All this is happening in a period when the Energy Development Strategy until 2040 is being developed and adopted and work on the National Energy and Climate Plan - planning documents that clearly indicate the need for accelerated energy transformation and move away from the use of fossil fuels, which set the country as a leader within the Energy Community in terms of plans for transformation of the energy sector."[4]
In March 2022, North Macedonia nominated the project for EU funding under the Economic and Investment Plan, despite pledging to phase out coal by 2027. [2] The Bankwatch Briefing goes on to say that "it is not clear why this project has been nominated as it does not fit any Flagship project criteria and is not part of the country's energy transition plans". "While North Macedonia has indeed had coal supply problems this winter, a new mine cannot be the answer as it will encourage the country to push back its coal phase-out date", the Briefing concludes.
In October 2022 interview, the General Director of ESM stated that the necessary preparations should be made in the coming months to start mining. ESM has obtained a concession for the exploitation. The first tonne of coal after making the initial cut should flow after three months. It appears that the plan is to mine 1 million tonnes within the first year, within the area of 25 hectares, increasing the area by another 25 hectares later and increasing production to approximately 2 million tonnes per annum.[3] It appears that at this point references are only made to Surface mining.
In November 2022, a media article covering the visit of the Prime Minister to the Bitola power station mentions that the mine is in the final stage of construction.[5] As of February 2023, it appears that the excavation has begun.[6]
Mine Details
- Operator: ESM[1]
- Owner: ESM
- Location: near Bitola, North Macedonia
- GPS coordinates: 40.967495, 21.539161 (exact)
- Mine status: Proposed
- Production: 3 million tonnes per annum (2 from Surface operations + 1 from Underground)[1]
- Start year: 2023
- Mineable reserves: 53 million tonnes[1]
- Coal type: Lignite (Thermal)
- Mine size:
- Mine type: Surface, Underground
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Development and Investment Plan 2018-2022, Company Website, March 2018
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Pippa Gallop, Flagships or red flags? Risks of proposed flagship infrastructure projects under the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, Bankwatch Briefing, March 2022
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "ESM: Increased production of domestic coal reduced the production price of electricity from REK "Bitola" (Translated)". https://novamakedonija.com.mk/. October 2022.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kristina Dimitrova, "NO to new lignite and coal mines", The Center for Research and Environmental Information (Eco-consciousness),April 1, 2022
- ↑ "Prime Minister Kovacevski: REC Bitola has been the pillar of the Macedonian economy and the basis of Macedonian energy for 40 years (Translated)". https://vlada.mk/. November 2022.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ↑ "State excavators damaged the world-famous Neolithic site Vlaho near Bitola (translated)". https://www.slobodenpecat.mk/. February 2023.
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