The Government of Slovenia will provide EUR 403 million to prevent the bankruptcy of coal power plant Šoštanj and the mine in Velenje Coal mine Velenje and coal power plant Šoštanj (photo: HSE) 0 The government revealed in a new statement that it expects TEŠ and Premogovnik Velenje to go bankrupt early next year It adopted a bill to provide subsidies and transitional financing for an accelerated and just transition toward a coal exit and beyond it The legislation envisages a transfer of the two entities into direct state ownership TEŠ will primarily produce heat and operate through April 2027 The bill stipulates social security and job protection for employees in the mine and the thermal power plant It said it would enable the inhabitants of the Šalek valley to live decently The proposal was prepared by the Ministry of the Environment About EUR 324 million will be allocated to support the production of heat TEŠ would primarily provide heat for district heating for the Šalek valley – more precisely About EUR 324 million would be allocated to support the production of heat It would prevent the bankruptcy of the power plant and mine which was expected at the beginning of next year at the height of the winter heating season The initiation of bankruptcy proceedings would jeopardize jobs and the employees’ families and leave 35,000 inhabitants and all public institutions and companies without heating In addition to the EUR 324 million, EUR 79 million is required to pay off TEŠ’s loans, the government stressed. Giving up ownership over TEŠ and the mine will relieve HSE of burden and enable it to compensate the state for the aid The new bill is a transitional solution until the adoption of measures for a just coal phaseout the restructuring of the area’s economy and finding alternative sources for heat production It said it would provide time for the region to resolve key issues regarding the just transition HSE: Continued aid to TEŠ and the mine would be illegal state aid The measures are part of the upcoming legislation facilitating a gradual closure of the Velenje coal mine and the restructuring that will enable the development of the Savinja and Šalek region HSE said in September that the results of an analysis of the operation of the company’s thermal division showed TEŠ and Premogovnik Velenje would become unprofitable due to changes in the market and a drop in electricity prices below their cost of production The holding pointed out that from January 1 it wouldn’t be able to fund the uninterrupted operation of the two entities arguing that such state aid would be illegal according to EU law Be the first one to comment on this article 05 May 2025 - The delegations from the two countries met on the sidelines of the 10th summit meeting of the Three Seas Initiative 05 May 2025 - The Trebinje 3 photovoltaic plant would have an installed capacity of 53.63 MW and an estimated annual production of 85.5 GWh 05 May 2025 - VDE Renewables found that SolarEdge’s advanced safety capabilities minimize photovoltaic system risks and effectively prevent fire hazards 02 May 2025 - The project is located in Constanța county recognized for its superior yields in green energy production © CENTER FOR PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2008-2020 website developed by ogitive Looking to access paid articles across multiple policy topics Interested in policy insights for EU professional organisations the only remaining coal-fired power station in Slovenia will likely only be operational in case of electricity shortages and high market prices until it is removed from the grid per the country’s coal plan to phase out coal by… either observed and verified directly by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Šoštanj accounts for about a third of Slovenia's total domestic energy production but has been struggling due to poor production at the nearby Velenje coal mine Three municipalities in the Šalek valley in Slovenia signed a cooperation agreement with the utility firm in Velenje and with TEŠ 0 Savinjsko-šaleška regija – SAŠA) and Zasavje are Slovenia’s coal regions Along with other local economies dependent on the coal industry in the European Union they are eligible to receive public funds for their energy transition The municipalities of Velenje, Šoštanj, and Šmartno ob Paki plan to tap on the EU’s Just Transition Fund together with TEŠ – part of state-owned power producer Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE) – and Komunalno Podjetje Velenje (KPV) for the decarbonization of the district heating system in the Šalek valley KPV said they would produce project documentation for the gradual transition to renewable energy sources The deal is also the first step in eliminating CO2 emissions from the coal region Šaleška valley must phase out coal within ten years experts from both sides will prepare a joint concept It includes the installation of heat pumps paired with solar power plants at the location of the TEŠ coal plant and a cogeneration facility that would use different fuels together with a heat pump at the local wastewater treatment plant The district heating network is planned to be modernized Heat pumps and photovoltaic facilities are to be installed at the TEŠ site The Šalek valley must switch to clean energy within ten years so it is necessary to define investments and measures as soon as possible to restructure the district heating system KPV said and added that the TEŠ site is excellent KPV and the municipalities plan to jointly apply for the money from the Just Transition Fund this year The first phase of the transformation of the district heating system is already underway It is envisaged to reduce CO2 emissions and coal consumption by 25,269 and 21,150 tons per year and result in annual heat savings of 76,559 MWh or about 25% KPV plans to start renewing the distribution network and the installation of the first renewable electricity plant The district heating system in the Šalek valley supplies more than 35,000 consumers The agreement was signed by the general manager of TEŠ Branko Debeljak KPV’s manager Gašper Škarja and the municipality chiefs: Peter Dermol (Velenje) Boris Goličnik (Šoštanj) and Janko Kopušar (Šmartno ob Paki) 30 April 2025 - Energy Secretary Chris Wright has delivered a keynote speech at the inaugural session of the Three Seas Business Forum in Warsaw , 09 April 2025 - Renewables and nuclear energy met 79,1% of 2024 global power demand growth The fossil fuels share was bigger than the part attributed to the annual rise in temperatures 08 April 2025 - The first large independent analysis in Croatia of methane emissions from the oil and gas infrastructure was carried out 08 April 2025 - The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition has presented the Social Plan for Climate Policy and the EU ETS 2 Slovenia will receive more than €258 million under the Just Transition Fund (JTF) following the adoption of the single Cohesion Policy programme that includes its Territorial Just Transition Plan (TJTP) This EU support will help deliver a just climate transition in the Slovenian regions of Savinjsko-Saleška (SAŠA) and Zasavje Energy restructuring in Savinjsko-Šaleška the coal mining in Velenje and the Šoštanj thermal power plant's coal blocks (TEŠ) will close by 2033 The Just Transition Fund (JTF) will help diversify the local economy by investing in research and development related to innovative industrial processes and production capacity in small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) the Fund will redesign the district heating system and support the transition from the use of coal to alternative clean energy sources for heating for instance from solar energy and heat pumps JTF will also support the production of energy from renewable sources degraded coal-related facilities in the region will be repurposed and revitalised with the aim to invest in the expansion of renewable energy production the JTF will support 2,400 workers active in the coal sector with lifelong career guidance and training The region of Zasavje used to have a coal mine and power plant and is seeking to develop new sectors that will support the restructuring of its economy the JTF will support SMEs to develop innovative business models as well as measures that will help to retain talent in the region and create new job opportunities The Fund will also invest in decarbonising the region through the production of various renewable energy sources such as solar energy the Fund will back the establishment of a ‘Centre for Demonstration and Training in Zero Carbon Technologies' in the region that will focus on the research on climate-neutral technologies for the transition to a modern Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms  The Just Transition Fund will make sure Slovenia’s coal regions will be regions of opportunities and innovation The spirit of the Just Transition Fund is to tackle the challenge of the climate transition together Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal Slovenia is taking important and ambitious steps to clean its energy production and give coal regions a new future based on renewable energy and clean technologies The EU Just Transition Fund will help the country make it a reality The European Commission is on Slovenia’s side to make sure that every citizen can benefit from a green The JTF ensures that the transition towards a climate-neutral economy happens in a fair way in particular in the regions that face the most difficult transition Those territories are identified during negotiations of the 2021-2027 Partnership Agreements and the associated programmes between the Slovenian authorities and the Commission. The Partnership Agreement with Slovenia was approved in September 2022 developed by the national and regional authorities in close consultation with local partners identify the challenges and development strategy and needs in each territory They also identify the planned actions with specific governance mechanisms The JTM provides targeted support to help mobilise around €55 billion over the period 2021-2027 in the most affected regions Local partners and all stakeholders can also get support and exchange best practices and experiences all across the EU via the Just Transition Platform.  the JTF will support the creation of a ‘Just Transition Centre' in each region support for project preparation and coordinate just transition activities in the two regions @TimmermansEU @ElisaFerreiraEC @EUinmyRegion @EUClimateAction Slovenia currently relies on imports for roughly three-quarters of all the electricity it consumes after the two largest power stations in the country were taken offline two weeks apart which typically provides a third of… there is enough water and wind in Slovenia which means there is enough electricity,” Mitja Tašler Slovenian lignite-fired thermal power plant Termoelektrarna Šoštanj (TEŠ) has been developing several projects aimed at… 1 TPP Šoštanj’s business results depend to a large extent on changes in the price emission allowances which TPP Šoštanj is obliged to buy or pay under the EU’s Emission Trading System (EU ETS) to fund the national Green Climate Fund TEŠ and Premogovnik Velenje are trying to actively participate in the coordination on a national level of ways and timing in the transition to a carbonless society The high price of allowances has a significant impact on the operations of TPP Šoštanj because those expenses make a great portion of company’s overall expenses TPP Šoštanj and coal mine operator Premogovnik Velenje (PV) are trying to actively participate in the coordination on a national level of ways and timing in the transition to a carbon neutral society We will need to adjust our business accordingly we will be active in identifying projects that could support us in contributing to so-called gradual transition One of the projects aimed at enabling a gradual transition to a carbon-free society is It would replace the operation of Unit 5 at the Šoštanj TPP site by 2030 and completely fulfill the obligatory greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2030 TEŠ is preparing the so-called hydrogen project to fuel local hydrogen-powered city buses we are exploring the possibilities for CO2 capture and utilization (CCU) We are also preparing for the implementation of the so-called hydrogen project We want to fuel local hydrogen-powered city buses while first and foremost we are looking into alternative fuels such as biomass and SRF Non-hazardous waste that can’t be recycled and reused is suitable for co-incineration with the primary fuel for the production of heat and power as its calorific value is relatively high SRF (solid recovered fuel) has such quality and we want to add it to lignite SRF is defined as a solid fuel manufactured from nonhazardous waste in accordance with the guidelines of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee TC 343 Around 160,000 tons per year of alternative SRF fuel (around 6%) can be added to the primary fuel – lignite SRF has a higher calorific value than lignite Coal is between nine and 11 megajoules per kilogram and SRF is 14-17 megajoules Slovenia has been serious about energy transition but it faces some problems at the very beginning Slovenia is well advancing in developing new renewable energy capacities the rise of the share of renewable energy sources in final consumption is rather slow We are one of few EU countries that won’t reach 2020 targets and we are also substantially conservative with regard to the 2030 target We only increased it by two percentage points from the 2020 level – from 25% to 27% It is expected that the country will be able to draft a national coal exit strategy by the autumn the state is not at the moment sufficiently encouraging further exploitation of hydropower enough The National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) plans to continue with pre investment activities in the exploration of the possibilities to use renewables and it also plans to make changes in the regulations related to renewables location identification will show a significantly different picture in hydropower sector Projects in the hydropower sector may substantially contribute to increase of renewable energy share and the transition to a low carbon society the state is currently not encouraging further exploitation of hydropower enough The state made the first steps due to the intensive activities of HSE Group and the activities are now proceeding at an accelerated pace Last year we managed to get involved in the EU’s Platform for Coal Regions in Transition A workgroup has been set up at the government level to define a timetable by the end of the year for gradual coal phase out We expect that the country will succeed in drafting a national coal exit strategy by the autumn with the help of EU funds and an external contractor TEŠ’s operating plans are in line with the adopted NECP to the greatest extent as the NECP envisages a 30% reduction in coal consumption by 2030 which is in line with our plan to stop the production in Block 5 It is not yet fully clear until when Slovenia will be allowed to use coal for the production of electricity TEŠ 6 is expected to be operational until 2054 but the decision will be provided by the national strategy for coal phase out National coal abandonment strategy will have to provide the Savinjsko-Šaleška region and employees with the necessary clarity on further development and a support framework TEŠ and PV will actively participate in the strategy preparation process to secure that this document provides a clear development and support plan for the Savinjsko-Šaleška region economically viable and socially balanced transition that would bring growth development and job creation while providing an adequate level of security of supply for Slovenia’s energy system The fact is that EU is adopting ambitious targets including climate neutrality by 2050 EU wants to maintain competitiveness of its economy with these targets and at the same time to use them to encourage ambitions of other countries by introducing a carbon tax on electricity imports from those countries those countries should obtain detailed information about the European Commission’s plans through their participation in the Energy Community and try to adjust to new measures in such a way to provide security of supply and competitiveness of their energy sectors Countries in the region must become fully aware of the EU plans and try as much as possible to prepare for the future It would be good that countries from the region set up their own energy transition funds which would be funded through some kind of emissions allowances purchased by companies that emit CO2 The fund would be used to finance and support energy transition of the same companies This approach would provide a fair transition We don’t know now how long would the pandemic last but we have been preparing for it as if it would be lasting for a long time Already in February we have launched prevention measures that were at our disposal in order to secure power production having in mind that in crisis situation electricity supply is needed more than usually TEŠ is ready for quarantine as well in case it becomes necessary In order to minimize the coronavirus risk everyone who can work from home does so.That is around 20% to 30% of employees The rest must be at the location but we undertook necessary measures to minimize the risk for them also We are also ready for quarantine in TEŠ in case the most severe measures are to be implemented The interview presents the good concept for energy transition of coal fired power plants 10 February 2025 - In an interview with Balkan Green Energy News minister Sanja Božinovska discussed the country’s top energy priorities and the steps needed to achieve them 23 December 2024 - The Green for Growth Fund recently topped EUR 1 billion in AUM and the demand for its offering is steadily picking up the Director for GGF at Finance in Motion Borislav Kostadinov revealed 22 October 2024 - UGT Renewables and Hyundai Engineering are at the forefront of the US-Serbia energy cooperation agreement 08 October 2024 - In an interview with Balkan Green Energy News GEN’s CEO Dejan Paravan explains why he believes nuclear energy is the right solution The management of the Šoštanj thermal power plant (TEŠ) presented the results of an environmental… Photo: TPP Šoštanj management during the presentation of the EIA (HSE) 0 TEŠ, which is part of state-owned energy company Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE), earlier announced that in the case of a positive EIA it would start burning SRF next year TEŠ has started the process of obtaining an environmental permit for the joint combustion of lignite and SRF The EIA takes into account the environmental and human impacts that would occur during the incineration of SRF fuel and at the time of the activity’s termination All impacts were assessed as insignificant TEŠ decided to continue with the procedure so it submitted the EIA to the Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO) according to the press release on HSE’s website This is the beginning of the process of obtaining environmental consent for the co-incineration of lignite and SRF in unit 6 of TEŠ CO2 emissions would be lowered while all other environmental impacts would be within the permitted limits The emissions would be in accordance with regulations in Slovenia but also with the values ​​determined in the EU best available technologies (BAT) reference documents (BREF) TEŠ intends to burn a maximum of 160,000 tons of SRF per year Lignite remains the primary raw material for energy production in the thermal power plant TEŠ intends to burn a maximum of 160,000 tons of SRF per year or a maximum of 6% of the weight of the base fuel The addition of SRF would improve the efficiency of electricity and heat production SRF would be purchased only from Slovenian producers crushing and dehydrating selected solid non-hazardous waste SRF would be purchased only from Slovenian producers who would ensure the quality of fuel adding that the company would respond to all calls from the local community to present the results of the EIA In a recent interview for our portal Tašler spoke about the projects that TEŠ intends to implement in order to complete a gradual energy transition 02 May 2025 - The Sunčana (Sunny) Vipava project envisages installing solar power plants with a combined capacity of 20 MW 30 April 2025 - OMV put into operation its 10 MW green hydrogen plant at the Schwechat refinery 30 April 2025 - It is the second time this year that MVM contracted gas-fueled and hydrogen-ready power plants at sites of former fossil fuel facilities Slovenia will stop using coal for electricity generation by 2033 under the national strategy to phase out coal and restructure coal regions that the government adopted on Thursday It is one of the last EU countries to do so The final confirmation of the coal exit year comes after months of extensive consultations with stakeholders and local communities If the environmental impact assessment (EIA) doesn’t reveal a possible excessive impact on the environment… 0 The project will be implemented by Termoelektrarna Šoštanj (TEŠ) subsidiary of state-owned power utility Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE) The final investment decision is still pending The final investment decision is still pending because EIA is not finished adding the consent of the local community is crucial The project was presented to Velenje city officials and also on the round table A presentation of the SRF co-incineration project was held in Velenje The project was presented to municipal officials and also at a round table In case the EIA unveils potential excessive impact on the environment and the health of the nearby population, TEŠ will not proceed with the project, said the utility’s director Mitja Tašler, who was appointed in September 2019 Co-incineration will reduce CO2 emissions by 156,000 tonnes below the current levels If the analysis is in line with all the prescribed limitations TEŠ expects trial co-incineration to start at the end of 2021 Co-incineration is a step forward in reducing emissions and one of the first steps towards greener energy adding that the project would reduce CO2 emissions by 156,000 tonnes below the current levels TEŠ expects a smaller amount of co-incineration byproducts like ash and slag TPP Šoštanj has two units, 5 and 6. Blocks 1, 2, 3 and 4 have been shut down. The last was unit 4, in 2018 The recently presented draft national energy and climate plan (NECP) also envisages the closure of unit 5 06 May 2025 - The island town of Novalja could become one of the first in Croatia to begin the production of green hydrogen Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said coal plant TEŠ and its accompanying mine may end operations before the expected closure in 2033 , 0 Slovenia’s state-owned energy company Holding Slovenske elektrarne (HSE) expects significant losses in the operation of the last coal-fired thermal power plant Termoelektrana Šoštanj (TEŠ) and the Premogovnik Velenje mine An analysis is underway as a basis for decisions on the division and it is expected to be completed in the second half of the year Prime Minister Robert Golob has confirmed that it includes scenarios for closure or sharp production cuts within the next three years The country’s strategy envisages the shutdown by 2033. But the division is seen suffering more than EUR 2 billion in operating losses by then, Dnevnik reported earlier, citing projections that it obtained. It could threaten HSE’s existence. The company is also considering the possibility of spinning off TEŠ and the firm operating the mine into a separate entity HSE is examining a scenario of spinning off the coal plant and mine into a separate company Golob said he doesn’t believe the coal plant would last until 2032 “not because of politics HSE told state news agency STA that it is working on solutions for coal miners and other workers and stakeholders The closure of TEŠ and Premogovnik Velenje wouldn’t be such an issue from an energy point of view as it would financially and socially The plan to restructure the facility includes the installation of a floating solar power plant, hydrogen production and other new technologies The ministry added it could be possible to cover the losses from TEŠ’s operations with renewables Slovenia is eligible for EUR 259 million from the EU’s Just Transition Fund There is EUR 174 million for the Savinja and Šalek coal region (Savinjsko-šaleška regija – SAŠA) where there was a coal plant and mining complex There are 2,000 employees in Premogovnik Velenje including activities other than coal production the European Commission recently criticized its draft update of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (INECP or just NECP) It lacks ambition and details on measures to achieve 2030 goals State-owned Holding Slovenske elektrarne is preparing for the possibility of spinning off its coal assets: thermal power plant TEŠ and a mine 0 The move is in line with Slovenia’s coal phaseout strategy and in view of the fact that electricity production in coal plant Termoelektrarna Šoštanj would be highly unprofitabile but also given its role in the national electricity system socio-economic and other analyses will include the lignite production segment TEŠ is supplied by the Premogovnik Velenje coal mine The first phase of preparations is scheduled to be completed by mid-year Other Southeastern European countries with state-owned coal plants and mines still hold them in power utilities together with hydropower facilities and other assets coal plants and mines are in the same government-controlled power utilities as hydroelectric plants and other facilities Such obsolete systems are becoming an ever heavier financial burden the cost of carbon dioxide emission certificates is almost as high as prices on electricity exchanges they are facing the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) essentially a CO2 tax for imports in the EU it is becoming more difficult for companies with portfolios that are problematic on the climate front to obtain sustainable financing Slovenia’s decisions will be closely watched in the rest of the region The idea is for TEŠ and the coal mine to form a company under direct state ownership They are expected to generate a combined loss of EUR 2 billion within a decade The news outlet noted that the spike in electricity prices during the energy crisis brought relief to TEŠ The Šoštanj plant lost EUR 280.4 million in 2020 while in the following two years it was around breaking even. But HSE was still struck a heavy blow from expensive power imports, prompting a government bailout worth EUR 492 million in late 2022 Holding Slovenske elektrarne said it returned another EUR 100 million or EUR 342 million in total The national strategy from two years ago envisages a coal phaseout by 2033 The government will need to provide more detailed plans and legislation to get a green light from the European Commission to keep TEŠ afloat Slovenian state-owned HSE plans to cover a part of the Družmirje lake 0 HSE said it would install a floating photovoltaic system on the Družmirje lake It was formed in the late 20th century as land above parts of the Premogovnik Velenje underground coal mine subsided HSE’s Termoelektrarna Šoštanj (TEŠ) is also next to the lake The government-controlled company vowed to preserve the Družmirje lake’s ecosystem including birds and to adapt the entire shore for water and waterfront activities HSE added that the floating solar power plant would have up to 140 MW in capacity It plans to build it 150 to 200 meters from the western shore and up to 400 meters away in the southwestern section The floating PV plant will take up no more than half of the lake’s surface An info point will be established for the local population to learn about the project HSE Group reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 1.4 million tons or 30% in the last decade and sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by 75% The Šalek valley is part of the Savinja and Šalek coal region (Savinjsko-šaleška regija – SAŠA) Slovenia regulated floating PV plants with last year’s Law on the Introduction of Devices for the Production of Electricity from Renewable Energy Sources Some biologists and activists are concerned that floating solar power plants would harm aquatic life by depriving it of light and argue that there is no relevant scientific research They also say PV panels may heat the water too much and leak chemicals proponents of the technology are pointing out that floaters reduce evaporation Slovenia’s state power utility Holding Slovenske Elektrarne (HSE) has appointed new top managers at two… 0 HSE named Viktor Vračar as director general of the company operating the TEŠ power plant and Mitja Tašler as the company’s director who is also a member of the HSE management board used to sit on the company’s supervisory board and serve as an operating officer in charge of production He holds a PhD in business management and organization and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering Mavec’s professional career spans more than 20 years including over 15 years at the helm of various companies who has served as an interim director of TEŠ since March 1 has a bachelor’s degree in electronics and over ten years of professional experience in the energy sector including more than five years in leading and managerial positions Marko Mavec was named director general of Premogovnik Velenje Mavec was also appointed to a four-year term Marko Mavec holds a master’s degree in mining and geotechnical engineering most recently as head of technical services he has been the director of the ERICo institute for ecological research In March this year HSE itself got a new director general while Viktor Vračar was appointed as chief operating officer and Boštjan Markoli as new president of the supervisory board Power plant and coal mine Velenje are in financial difficulties which forced their owner HSE to ask for help from the Slovenian government 0 Slovenia’s only coal-fired power plant and coal mine, TEŠ and Premogovnik Velenje, are very close to a financial collapse, Slovenia’s news portal necenzurirano.si reported It had insight into the HSE report sent to the Slovenski Državni Holding (SDH) which provides 35% of domestic power output recorded a loss of EUR 280.4 million in 2020 HSE said it informed the owner of the various scenarios for resolving the issue and attributed the loss to “enormous growth” in prices of emission allowances”. At the end of August CO2 price climbed to a record of almost EUR 61 per ton which has a 35% share in domestic power generation compared to EUR 9.6 million at Premogovnik Velenje The thermal power plant’s assets were impaired last year by EUR 243.5 million which means the sum was written off from the balance sheet on a drop in value Of note, Slovenia is considering a coal phase-out year, and the government has proposed 2033. According to a recent study, TEŠ could record a total net loss of EUR 870 million by 2030 According to the HSE’s report to SDH the company has determined that the remaining EUR 650 million should also be impaired which means the value of TEŠ would be zero The thermal power plant will then record a EUR 560 million loss for this year HSE must decide whether to inject TEŠ with fresh capital or write off a large part of its debts to international banks TEŠ could also delay impairments and gain a maximum of three years but in 2024 the value of its assets would be lower than its liabilities and the company will still become insolvent The power plant will run out of money for salaries and other liabilities in the spring of 2022 at the latest The situation is even worse in the short term the coal-fired power plant will run out of money for salaries and other liabilities in the spring of 2022 at the latest TEŠ’s problems are also making life difficult for coal mine Premogovnik Velenje because the company is the only buyer of its goods HSE is lobbying for TEŠ and Premogovnik Velenje to be spun off and placed under direct state ownership the continued operation of the thermal division is financially unsustainable HSE is lobbying for TEŠ and Premogovnik Velenje to be spun off into a company under direct state ownership or to become a part of a capacity mechanism under which EU member states can secure strategic energy reserves HSE told necenzurirano.si it is considering the possibility to apply for state aid and avoid bankruptcy