Restructuring of Coal Industry in the Republic of Slovenia

摘要

Pursuant to the Energy Act, the electricity market in the Republic of Slovenia was deregulated on 1 January 2003. This completed the transition from the regulated to the market-based operation of companies including the producers as well as distributors and other entities in the power sector. The latter include the remaining operating coalmines. In order to determine the competitiveness of power generation companies and coalmines operating under deregulated electricity market conditions, various scenarios for the period 2001 - 2010 were developed. The objective was to define the impact of the introduction of individual mechanisms and sources of financing on the operation of the electricity market, on the competitiveness of power generation companies and, indirectly, on their business performance. In accordance with the results of the evaluation of these scenarios it was possible to identify certain measures to be implemented within the companies as well as measures to be implemented by the government in order to ensure continued stability of operation of companies in the power sector and coal mining companies following the deregulation of the electricity market. This paper presents the process of restructuring of the only coalmine of any significance in Slovenia, which is expected to continue to operate for another 25 years. The Premogovnik Velenje coal mining company has been gearing up for the accession of Slovenia to the European Union a number of years. In the process of defining their basic strategic business goals they have set themselves a very demanding task: no workers are to lose their jobs on account of the restructuring. The vision statement of the company clearly provides that lignite production will continue at the level ensuring efficient company operation in terms of technology as well as economy, the highest possible degree of occupational safety, humane working conditions and provision of efficient and effective solutions in relation to environmental issues arising from lignite mining.