The Vojany coal-fired power plant. (source: TASR)
The Vojany coal-fired power plant in the Michalovce district, eastern Slovakia, will be shut down in the first half of the next year.
The news was confirmed for Korzár daily by Oĺga Baková, spokeswoman of the largest electricity supplier Slovenské Elektrárne.
Alternative fuel no longer feasible
The threat of closing has been hanging over Slovakia's two coal-fired power plants for several years.
The Nováky plant is going to be shut down for good at the end of this year, while there was hope that the Vojany plant, although unprofitable for a long time, could switch to a different type of fuel to survive.
"The Vojany power plant is at a crossroads, where we are deciding whether to close it or continue to operate," said general director of Slovenské Elektrárne Branislav Strýček over three years ago, adding that the long-term decline in electricity prices, the high prices of CO2 permits, and coal are behind the economic problems.
However, the supply of alternative fuel has proven to be extremely unreliable and insufficient.
"We were unable to obtain alternative fuel at such a volume to allow us to operate the power plant. We have no choice but to close it," said Strýček last week.
Counting on employees
Currently, 116 employees work at the power plant.
The situation does not mean everyone will immediately lose their job.
