Sokolovská uhelná wants to invest 150 million this year into the Silvestr zone

Sokolov - The company Sokolovská uhelná intends to invest approximately 150 million crowns this year in the construction of the future industrial zone Silvestr near Sokolov. Silvestr is expected to become one of the three future industrial zones that will gradually take over employees following the decline of coal mining in the Sokolov area. This was stated today by the chairman of the supervisory board of Sokolovská uhelná, František Štěpánek, during Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka's (ČSSD) visit to the Karlovy Vary region.

According to Štěpánek, the Silvestr zone will not occupy any agricultural land. "This area, given that there was extensive industrial activity here in the past, is significantly prepared to welcome investors. The advantage of this area is that the highway runs along the entire industrial zone with two exits and the potential to connect to the European network at Marktredwitz. And complete networking," said Štěpánek. According to him, only secondary networks for investors will be needed. A railway siding has also been brought to the area, and next to the site of the former mine flows the Ohře River.

Last year, Sokolovská uhelná was dismantling extensive industrial buildings in the area; this year, the funds will go towards earthworks and infrastructure. Other industrial zones could arise near Sokolov towards Staré Sedlo and further near Nové Sedlo. "I want to commend the activity of Sokolovská uhelná, which is concerned with what will happen to employment in the Sokolov area in the coming years as coal mining and energy production in the Tisová power plant gradually decline. The government is ready to help through the CzechInvest agency in terms of promoting this unique investment opportunity," said Prime Minister Sobotka.

The Silvestr mine area used to be the heart of the former western part of the Sokolov coal basin, where up to 2,500 people were employed. Mining at the mine was gradually phased out by 2000. Currently, Sokolovská uhelná employs about 3,500 people and is the largest employer in the Karlovy Vary region.