One of the key highlights was the 5th Annual Political Dialogue of Coal Regions in Transition this event gathered high-level political figures and stakeholders to discuss the shift from coal to sustainable energy The event featured prominent figures in the energy transition Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Slovenia's Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development Discussions covered topics such as industrial transformation in coal regions Participants also visited key sites impacted by the transition and revitalised areas like Lake Velenje and VISTA Park In its ongoing effort to educate younger generations Velenje marked the 15th anniversary of the ‘Green Backpack’ program an initiative that teaches preschool children about environmental stewardship through creative tasks plays a central role in making sustainability engaging for the children The city also distributed notebooks filled with eco-friendly tips and messages to primary and secondary school students giving their academic year an eco-conscious start a new exhibition installed in front of the Velenje post office encourages residents to adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives Velenje also hosted the popular Pippi Longstocking Festival which centred on waste reduction and environmental care with the theme of becoming eco-superheroes Looking ahead, the city will continue its green journey by installing secure bike racks around Velenje Lake. Furthermore, on 30 September, the international conference ‘Pozdravljena prihodnost – Welcome Future’ took place The conference featured keynote speaker Dr Janez Potočnik former European Commissioner for Environment Velenje is committed to the belief that sustainable events play a crucial role in reducing the environmental impact while driving positive social change the city has introduced local "Guidelines for Velenje Green Events." These guidelines help organisers plan and execute eco-friendly events from catering services and educational programmes to fairs and business meetings ensuring an enjoyable and sustainable experience for all participants A key initiative is the integration of sustainability requirements and recommendations into public tenders This approach encourages sustainable practices across various sectors Velenje has also implemented reusable cups which have helped cut event-related waste by over 60% These cups not only reduce waste but also serve as an effective marketing tool enhancing both the cleanliness and appeal of event spaces the city has established green information points at recycling stations staffed by trained green advisors—students and retirees—who assist visitors in waste sorting and promote sustainable habits This approachable yet impactful method is transforming the environmental practices of both residents and visitors fostering a culture of sustainability throughout the community EU Environment newsletters deliver the latest updates about the European Commission’s environmental priorities straight to your inbox Velenje—one of Slovenia’s sunniest and greenest cities—is transforming to achieve climate neutrality The city has committed to phasing out coal by 2033 but will have to reconcile its industrial heritage with the demands of a sustainable future Read here about how it is testing innovative solutions to meet its environmental goals While Velenje may owe much of its development to the coal industry, it has also evolved into a vibrant city with rich culture and youthful energy, illustrated by well-designed playgrounds, a youth centre, and by far the largest children’s festival in the region. It hosts famous cultural events and is a popular tourist destination thanks to its exceptional location between lakes and mountains Small enough to reach everything in 20 minutes but big enough to offer modern infrastructure and cultural life Velenje is proving itself ambitious enough to embark on the mission to transform to climate neutrality and address the great challenge lying underground The history of Velenje is closely linked to the lignite that lies beneath its surface the government of the former Yugoslavia urbanised the area and people across the country were relocated to work in the coal mines The city’s lifeblood became the thermal power plant After many years of prosperity from coal energy the municipality of Velenje decided to move with the times and take a challenging step to transition to more environmentally friendly solutions it also tied Velenje to a past heavily reliant on fossil fuels “It’s not easy when a city’s economy is so deeply connected to one industry,” says Igor Kapš from the Economic Development and Transition Office of the Municipality of Velenje More than 4,000 jobs are directly linked to them.” “This is a large-scale project that needs to be approached from multiple angles such as the future of work Velenje was born out of coal and it grew up alongside it,” says Kapš “The mentality of the people is one of our biggest challenges We are still working with the first generation of miners who find it difficult to comprehend the need to shut down the mine and shift to renewable energy.” The first steps towards a green future with citizens at heart so that’s where we need to focus our efforts,” Kapš explains and we’ve secured funds from the Just Transition Fund to get started The transition is a complex puzzle involving both physical infrastructure as well as public awareness and engagement.” the municipality has drawn up an action plan based on an in-depth analysis on the feasibility of different DHS scenarios and the local potential for renewable energy sources in line with the just transition and the coal phase-out It proposes the transition to an innovative DHS regime comprised of PV thermal and solar collectors and is considered the most economically feasible and sustainable “The action plan envisages investment in the renovation of buildings and energy retrofitting as one of the most important steps to minimise losses and provide sufficient energy data for digitalisation,” explains Kapš Velenje is focussing on reducing the consumption of thermal energy in public and residential buildings “The main goal is to create a digital tool that collects data on energy consumption and with which we can run simulations on the impact of efficient energy use for an individual facility we want to inform the citizens about the importance of the energy renovations carried out about the renovation of the remote system and the transition to a low-temperature regime of course with the ultimate aim of reducing the consumption of thermal energy,“ says Kapš These measures will enable citizens to monitor energy consumption and hopefully take cost-saving measures — in other words “We are implementing all these technical measures but nothing will happen without citizen engagement People need more awareness about climate change but also about practical issues such as how they can manage their energy use,” says Kapš “It’s simple things like using thermostats correctly We still see people heating their apartments with the windows wide open Velenje focuses on behaviour change and believes that citizens should be at the centre of the transition the municipality opened a one-stop shop as part of their UP-SCALE project It is a physical space for residents with experts on hand to provide information and advice on energy efficiency and climate change such as offering financial incentives to help people switch to new electric thermostats “We really have the spirit of: Let’s really do something for the people It’s not about just taking part in one project and then Climate change is a complex challenge and the answer to combat it is not going to be simple We need to take a systemic approach and tackle the problem on several fronts The clock is ticking for Velenje’s coal phase-out but the city is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge ahead The closure of the coal mine will inevitably lead to job losses and the region’s economy will need to be restructured to accommodate the shift away from coal The city is already planning for this transition and taking citizens’ concerns to heart “It won’t happen overnight,” Kapš continues They believe that one day the mine will close and they will be left without jobs We have to keep emphasising that this is a process We are talking about long-term strategies that will develop over the next decade.” Velenje is not just focused on energy and industry; it’s also looking at how to create a greener The city has already made strides in sustainable mobility having introduced free public transport in 2008 and expanding its cycling infrastructure “We want to reduce the number of cars in the city centre and promote walking and cycling,” says Kapš “We’ve been working on this for over a decade Despite the uncertainties about the future Velenje is pressing ahead with optimism and determination In addition to decarbonising its energy system the city is investing in deep building renovations and digitising its services to create a smarter but the hardest part is getting everyone involved—citizens The measures we’re implementing are ambitious but realistic and we’re confident that we can reach our goals We’re not just transforming our energy system Web design TWK 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 The 2024 Slovenian National Table Tennis Championships were held at the Rdeča Dvorana in Velenje and the Slovenian Table Tennis Association Deni KOŽUL (Logatec) and Sara TOKIĆ (Vrtojba) claimed the singles titles—and both also added doubles gold to their tallies reaffirming their status as the top players in Slovenia Miha PODOBNIK (Savinja) and Katarina STRAŽAR (Mengeš) secured the title With Darko JORGIĆ absent due to preparations for the WTT Champions tournament in South Korea Deni KOŽUL entered the competition as the top seed and delivered a commanding performance After advancing from his qualification group and receiving a first-round bye he defeated national teammate Peter HRIBAR 4-0 (8 he faced rising star Brin Vovk PETROVSKI (Savinja) who had not dropped a set on his way to the final just five days after celebrating his 28th birthday 12) win to secure his fifth career national title My goal was to win both the singles and doubles titles with Peter HRIBAR my focus shifts to the two WTT Feeder events in Otočec which are more important for me at this stage,” KOŽUL said after the final Sara TOKIĆ successfully defended her title from last year with a hard-fought 4-3 (7 8) win over Ana TOFANT (Mengeš) in the final The 18-year-old niece of Slovenian legend Bojan TOKIĆ continues to impress securing her second consecutive national title TOKIĆ breezed through the earlier rounds without dropping a set including a 4-0 semifinal win over Katarina Stražar beating Tjaša NOVAK 4-2 in the quarterfinals and Lara OPEKA 4-2 in the semis Deni KOŽUL and Peter HRIBAR added to their singles success by defeating Tomaž PELCAR and Damjan ZELKO (both Murexin) in the final 3-0 (6 The national team duo dropped only one set throughout the tournament showing excellent chemistry and control in key moments Sara TOKIĆ and Ana TOFANT were crowned champions while Miha PODOBNIK and Katarina STRAŽAR captured the mixed doubles gold The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) is the governing body of the sport of table tennis in Europe and is the only authority recognized for this purpose by the International Table Tennis Federation The ETTU deals with all matters relating to table tennis at a European level including the development and promotion of the sport in the territories controlled by its 58 member associations and the organization of continental table tennis competitions People Catalog of public information Cankarjev dom Accessibility Statement Memberships, partners, sponsors Media center Calls and public tenders staying up-to-date with all the latest news Register Founder and main co-funder of Cankarjev dom’s Arts and Culture programme Cookies   Production: ENKI Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Opening addresses were delivered by Maroš Šefčovič Executive Vice President of the European Commission for European Green Deal Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development State Secretary at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning Mayor of the Urban Municipality of Velenje Minister Jevšek underlined that green transition is a must not only for Europe and Slovenia but also for Velenje “We should make sure that green transition of coal regions and cities like Velenje is an opportunity for present and future generations – an opportunity for new jobs and high-quality and fulfilling life in home settings.” In cooperation with other ministries and local communities the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning and the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development are developing two key coal exit acts namely the Act Regulating the Gradual Closure of the Velenje Coal Mine and the Restructuring of the Savinjsko-Šaleška Region Act The drafts of both acts will be prepared by the end of 2024.     The European Commission has approved the territorial just transition plans for both coal regions in Slovenia namely for Zasavje and the Savinjsko-Šaleška region The plans make a good 250 million euros of the Just Transition Fund available to the mentioned regions EU funding is not the only available source of funding; it and energy restructuring of both coal regions also said Minister Jevšek in his opening address.  thanked the European Commission and the Slovenian government for their support in the region’s green transition and coal exit The mayor presented the main projects that are already being implemented He drew attention to the short deadlines for project closure and the necessity of preserving the Just Transition Fund also in the post-2027 financial perspective.        The opening addresses were followed by an opening session that focused on the perspective of industrial and green transition The opening session was attended by State Secretary at the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development The opening session was chaired by Maroš Šefčovič Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight.    Đurov stressed that the cooperation of municipalities as well as the cooperation of people who have a vision and the needed knowledge play a key role in a successful transition “Just transition will not be successful if it is not focused on the right measures which need to be developed with a bottom-up approach and in cooperation with the relevant region The Just Transition Fund resources play a key role.” is just for all and represents the foundation of the development breakthrough of Velenje I believe that green transition will bring a higher quality of life for all Previous events were hosted by Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic) Did you find the information you were looking for Do you want to receive a response from the responsible institution Clicking on the link will open your default e-mail program and automatically draft a message that you can send to the institution responsible for the content of this website ask for a reply The fifth Annual Political Dialogue of the Initiative for coal regions in transition The event is jointly organised by the European Commission the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development of Slovenia and the Municipality of Velenje lignite and oil shale regions – the coal+ regions – to gather take stock of the progress achieved (since the start of the Initiative in 2018) and discuss common challenges they face in today’s quickly-evolving energy landscape A number of high-level speakers will lead the event discussions The opening session will celebrate 5 years of EU coal+ regions in transition and includes a discussion on the industrial and green transition witnessed in EU coal+ regions we will launch an exhibition on brownfields industrial infrastructure and coal mines converted into business districts energy sites and places of cultural significance A dedicated session will focus on tackling energy poverty in coal regions and empowering citizens for an energy transition and the afternoon continues with site visits Day 2 includes sessions on the transition of district heating systems in coal+ regions and on social and inclusive transitions of coal+ regions We look forward to welcoming you in Velenje The deadline to register for in-person attendance is 24 June 2024The deadline to register for online attendance is 10 July 2024 If you have any questions regarding the event you can contact us at: secretariatcoalregions [dot] eu (secretariat[at]coalregions[dot]eu) Both cities are already busy planning and organising numerous events the next European Green Leaf cities will have much to offer Elsinore plans a more intimate plaque unveiling ceremony on 29 January 2024 while Velenje will organise a two-day event from 14-15 February Elsinore will also focus on citizen engagement by proposing a course on green community drivers involving all interested parties in the Climate Action Day on 25 April filling it with activities across the city and among all citizens As the slogan of the Danish city for its European Green Leaf title year is ‘sharing is caring’ mobilising citizens is key and at the centre of all foreseen activities The project of “Green Community Drivers” aims to promote the climate agenda through various communities among citizens residents and associations in Elsinore to encourage everyone to make more climate-friendly choices A green community driver is a citizen who wants to be involved in biodiversity and encourage other members of his community to follow his path His role is to spread good practices and advice on how to become greener and more sustainable in the little tasks of daily life Partnerships are also in the making with local companies and institutions planning to take the projects even further by collecting new ideas to grow even faster Elsinore will organise many events for ‘Climate Week’ the winners of the European Green Capital and Leaf 2024 Awards were announced at a ceremony in Grenoble The Spanish city of Valencia will become the European Green Capital for 2024 and the title of European Green Leaf 2024 went jointly to Elsinore in Denmark and the Slovenian city of Velenje I would like to warmly congratulate Valencia and Velenje and welcome them to the European Green City club These cities are working hard to build a healthier and greener environment for their residents and are an inspiration to others They show that the ambition of the European Green Deal to build resilient societies is the only way forward Cities are at the forefront of this transition and with the progress made so far I truly believe that we can build a greener and fairer Europe for all and inclusive food production through its “Neighbourhood and Food Programme” The Danish city of Elsinore mitigates the impact of the current energy crisis by accelerating the energy renovation of buildings and heat source conversion including by establishing district heating systems The city has reconstructed the sewage system to separate rainwater and waste water to improve water quality and efficiency The motto of its Green Leaf year is “sharing is caring” with citizens and local businesses involved in achieving a green transition The Slovenian city of Velenje is working to phase out coal while opening up new employment opportunities in the green job sectors Their motto is “from black to green & bright” Velenje was one of the first cities in Slovenia to install a separate waste collection system and has been improving waste management ever since The city is eager to share their experiences on the transformation from a coal mining to a climate neutral city Valencia will be granted a financial prize of EUR 600,000 The prize will support the winning city to implement measures to enhance the city’s environmental sustainability as part of the European Green Capital year 2024 European Green Leaf 2024 winners Elsinore and Velenje will each receive a financial prize of EUR 200,000 to support their efforts.  These proposals are part of the EU’s zero pollution ambition and will steer the EU towards key 2030 targets to reduce pollution at source All cities can play their part in implementing key legislation contribute to a resilient recovery and boost the transition to a clean circular and climate-neutral economy.  The EU recognises that cities play a crucial role in achieving the aims of the European Green Deal With over 70% of Europeans living in urban areas cities play an important role in the environmental and economic transformation.   The European Green Capital Award was launched in 2010 by the European Commission to encourage cities to become greener and cleaner and thereby to improve the quality of life for their citizens The Award recognises the efforts of cities that are committed to further action in line also with the European Green Deal’s ambitious goals and more specifically the Zero Pollution Action Plan the Circular Economy Action Plan and the Biodiversity Strategy.  The European Green Leaf Award (EGLA) was established to recognise the environmental efforts and achievements of smaller towns and cities (20 000 – 100 000 inhabitants).  Discover the European Green Capital Award previous winners and the European Green Leaf previous winners.  Download our press kit  Websites: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/europeangreenleaf/  Twitter: @EUGreenCapital  Facebook: www.facebook.com/EuropeanGreenCapitalAward  LinkedIn: European Green Capital Award  EU Policy on Urban Environment: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/urban-environment_en Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article Lebid cautiously optimistic in Velenje – Euro... © Branko & Nik NavršnikWith the transformation the Promenada is turning into a main event axis of the city its centre being placed into the new amphitheatre along the river which means that its watercourse swells up significantly a few times a year but remains relatively shallow at all other times which is an attractive element of any city The wide bridge also meant that anyone walking across it had a hard time seeing the river at all By narrowing the bridge and placing it off the former axis the space for the construction of an amphitheatre which slowly slopes down towards the river surface with the new bridge serving as its backdrop becomes the centre of the activity in the city and the river may once again claim an important spot in the townspeople's consciousness You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email A Robe lighting rig was specified and used by Slovenian Lighting Designer Crt Birsa of Blackout for Dubioza Kolektiv’s closing set of the 2023 Velenje Summer Splash open-air festival a new open-air performance space backing onto the lake and has Robe moving lights as part of the house rig these stripped out to allow Dubioza’s full production rig to be installed for the music evening 16 Spiider LED wash beams and 11 LEDWash 800s “We are playing many festivals plus our own headliner shows so it was vital to have a festival-friendly spec that offered plenty of creative scope,” explained Birsa Birsa is usually acclaimed for carefully sculpted styled and altogether more subtle lightshows that was another reason he wanted high-impact lights: They needed to be adaptable and the same lights also must work for the roster of other Blackout LDs who are minding the show while Birsa works his time imaginatively to cover other commitments Twenty-seven of the Summer Splash show Pointes were rigged mid-stage and upstage with 8 on the floor at the back for blow-through beam work Birsa will ask for MegaPointes or at least a mix of the two fixture types for these same positions dropping aerials to assisting with the onstage drama Birsa is proud to say that Dubioza is the first band for whom he’s found a use for the ‘gobo shake’ effect Spiiders were positioned above the stage also in the upstage trusses and used for stage and band washes with the LEDWash 800s on the front truss for key lighting The festival did have an onstage LED screen in addition to the two side IMAGs and Dubioza supplied their own ambient content for this video was not a major part of their 2023 show At the essence of the design was creating plenty of clean and contrasty looks but all are strong and dynamic that’s what these Robe luminaires deliver!” Birsa noted The lighting rig for Summer Splash was supplied by Bumerang from Grušena Robe has a big presence in this country thanks to distributor Other artists currently touring with lighting designs by Birsa recent high-profile lighting designs have included a concert for pianist Peter Bence at Budapest Arena which involved 60 MegaPointes supplied by three rental companies For Event Ltd and Perfect Design Factory – plus a special show at Ljubljana’s Križanke venue  This show involved around 150 Robe fixtures www.robe.cz We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again More information about our Cookie Policy The museum Velenje displays works of a recognized Slovene sculptor Ciril Cesar It shows different artistic periods from his sculptural beginning and works from academy to most recent ones with statues formed by sticking glass lamella The first room displays statues from Cesar's first creative period marked by classically calm formally and thematically unquestionable academic realism The second room shows works influenced by the protest and shock due to the evils of the war: gigantic bodies dehumanized forms from the cycle of war victims The last room shows works made by Cesar's special technique of composing sticking and crystallizing glass lamella that helps him to obtain shape and also light Chelsea Development Squad goalkeeper Karlo Žiger will be continuing his development out on loan this season, with the Chelsea official website confirming his move to NK Rudar Velenje — a club currently playing in the Slovenian second division who have lost all three of their league games so far this season Karlo Žiger has joined NK Rudar Velenje of the Slovenian second tier on loan for the season. Yep, that's a new one for the #CFC #LoanArmy and while the Chelsea website calls him a 19-year-old Contrary to most other goalkeepers in our youth system this will be Žiger’s first real loan opportunity he spent a few months at non-league Sutton United He’s represented Croatia at the U17 and U19 levels and often served as the fourth-goalkeeper last year behind Mendy An outstanding men's hammer field has been assembled for the 19th Miner’s Day Meeting in Velenje Most of the world’s top men’s hammer throwers will be in action at the small alpine nation’s premiere annual athletics event The 32-year-old Hungarian will arrive riding an eight-meeting winning streak and as the world leader at 81.57m from Ostrava Pars has lost just once in 11 starts this season That loss came at the hand of world champion Pawel Fajdek who is also in the field The Pole’s season’s best also came in Ostrava but at 79.65m is nearly two metres shy of his rival’s He was a distant third at the European Team Championships Dilshod Nazarov has been the season’s most consistent thrower Nazarov hit his 80.62m season’s best in Ostrava Russia’s European Team Championships winner Sergey Litvinov Local eyes will focus on former world and Olympic champion Primoz Kozmus whose early season training was slowed by a series of injuries the Beijing Olympic champion will have a struggle to just finish in the top five The capacity crowd expected at Velenje’s municipal stadium can expect a significantly better finish by in-form Martina Ratej in the javelin throw The 32-year-old national record-holder has performed well this season collecting notable victories at the IAAF Diamond League kick-off meeting in Doha (65.48m) and in Ostrava and with runner-up finishes at Rome’s Golden Gala and at the European Team Championships first division competition in Tallinn where she battled difficult conditions She’s hardly a shoe-in for the win however Carrying the status of favourite is Germany’s Linda Stahl the Olympic bronze medallist who reached a career best of 67.32m at the IAAF Diamond League stop in New York two weeks ago The rest of the evening’s programme will largely focus on regional talent chasing standards for the European Championships a 21-year-old Jamaican newcomer who clocked 9.93 at the California junior college championships in May Velenje will be Brown’s first race since his dash into the sub-10 club at the time a short-lived world leading performance who clocked a personal best 10.02 to finish runner-up at April’s South African Championships who holds national records at all three sprint distances and Jamaican champion Anneisha McLaughlin lead the fields in the 200m who has improved her PB to 6.66m this year leads a competitive long jump field of five women near or beyond the 6.50m mark this season and in the pole vault Slovenian national record-holder Tina Sutej will square off against German Katharina Bauer World champion Fajdek defeated on home soil b.. World leads for Heidler and Pars in Ostrava Pars triumphs in Turku to extend his unbeaten.. in velenje, slovenia, local studio enota has transformed an existing promenade into one of the city’s most prominent thoroughfares. traversing the river paka, the pedestrian zone extends from a parking garage before weaving its way through the existing urban fabric as the path twists around the surrounding buildings the existing promenade has been transformed into one of the city’s most prominent axes meaning that its watercourse swells up significantly an a few occasions but remains relatively shallow throughout year the river had unfortunately remained out of sight by narrowing the bridge and placing it off the former axis a space has been recovered for an amphitheater which slopes down towards the river’s surface with the water once again forming a prominent part of the city velenje city center promenada by enota architectsvideo by miran kambič the amphitheater slopes down towards the river’s surface the bridge has been repositioned to offer better views of the river velenje city center walk promenada by enota architectsvideo by miran kambič an aerial view including the parking garage to the far left project: velenje city center pedestrian zonetype: open competition first prizecompleted: 2014size: 17,020 sqmbudget: €2.7 millionclient: velenje municipalitylocation: velenje sloveniaarchitecture: enotaproject team: dean lah nebojša vertovšekstructural engineering: elea icstructural engineering: nom biroelectrical planning: elsing AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style 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 You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience Our membership benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career You can find all our latest consultation responses and latest policy news Showcasing the latest advances in technology from those working in research and manufacturing Our flagship members' magazine covering all aspects of the materials cycle Recognising the importance of ongoing learning training and qualifications for professional development See our Frequently Asked Questions and links on how to contact us if you need help An operational coal mine in Slovenia has become the latest site in mainland Europe to explore underground energy storage The Velenje mine in the northeastern part of Slovenia is currently a fully operational lignite mine with six working shafts and more than 1,600 employees The operators have commissioned a feasibility study to examine how underground gravity energy storage – provided by Edinburgh firm Gravitricity – could offer a low-carbon future as the mine winds down operations in the 2030s Gravitricity has developed an energy storage system which raises and lowers heavy weights in underground shafts – to offer lithium-ion batteries and pumped hydro storage and the Czech Republic in exploring gravity energy storage Gravitricity engineers have already visited the site to assess the technical feasibility of installing systems in two specific shafts one of which is a ventilation shaft that may become available for a potential pilot project that could start next year Gravitricity is currently fundraising on the Crowdcube platform and has already passed its £500,000 funding target Gravitricity Engineering Project Manager Nigel Voaden says ‘The Velenje mine could be very well suited to future energy storage schemes as the operational shafts are both deep and in excellent condition and we are grateful to the mine’s operators for commissioning this study Any future project could offer a new future to many of the hundreds of people who work at the mine today.’ One of Europe's deepest mines in central Finland could host the continent's first full-scale gravity energy store A novel technique called Underground Gravity Energy Storage (UGES) seeks to turn decommissioned mines into long-term energy storage solutions Engineers from the University of Surrey have improved understanding of how welded components behave inside the extreme conditions of a reactor The new standard suite provides a common framework against which companies can assess ESG and occupational health and safety performance in their operations and mineral supply chains Changes to the UK’s transport and energy storage sectors will need an additional 55GWh of batteries The latest mineral production statistics for 2019-23 show changes in mineral importance to the energy sector The VECTOR project invited 100 volunteers to understand the public’s raw materials knowledge at the Natural History Museum The UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that consumers could be misled that Lavazza Eco Caps can be composted at home Design & Development by Pixl8 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 06 May 2025 - The island town of Novalja could become one of the first in Croatia to begin the production of green hydrogen Plasteurope.com is a business information platform for the European plastics industry It is part of KI Kunststoff Information and PIE Plastics Information Europe one of the leading content providers for the European plastics industry We offer daily updated business news and reports polymer prices and other services for the international plastics industry News | Polymer Prices | Suppliers Guide | Jobs | Register | Advertising the final day of MetalDays 2023 in Podkraj Pri Velenju Slovenia has been canceled due to extreme weather conditions The festival organizers shared an official statement explaining that severe flooding has resulted in the closure of roads and highways in and out of Velenje they have urged everyone to refrain from leaving the area and have arranged overnight accommodations at Rdeca Dvorana in the city center Attendees who were en route to the festival are advised to immediately turn around and head to Rdeca Dvorana Those facing flooding in their tents are also instructed to relocate to the same venue shuttles are being organized from the reception area of Camp Velenje to transport individuals to Rdeca Dvorana Those in parts of the camp considered safe are advised to stay there until further notice there are also showers and all other necessities there If your tent is flooded or you need a place to stay in general please head to the Box office where free shuttles are ready for transfer. TRAFFIC INFO : Please also note the highway is closed There is also severe floods on the local roads many landslides and other threatening things on landslides and similar exposed outdoor surfaces is life threatening in some circumstances so SPEND THE NEXT HOURS INDOORS OR STAY IN A SAFE AREA! everyone will be on alert and on the ground for as long as necessary. Protect yourself and your loved ones first. ! Updates and instructions from local authorities are expected to provide further guidance The following bands were scheduled to perform today: HeilungIn FlamesAt The GatesSacred Reich HanabieUrneBlack Sonic Pearls Diablo Swing OrchestraBelphegorFit For An AutopsyOrbit CultureThe Callous DaoboysThe Broken Horizon Church Of The Cosmic SkullOvoCaronteInmateKeopsSouls Of Diotima ThroattwisterDecline The FallSchrodingerTol MorwenInhale The VoidEntoria Please be advised that due to severe flooding the roads and highway in and out of Velenje are closed until further notice we urge everyone to refrain from attempting to leave the area In collaboration with the Velenje Municipality we have arranged overnight accommodation at Rdeca Dvorana located near the main roundabout in the city center please turn around immediately and head to Rdeca Dvorana for your safety For those who have set up tents and are facing flooding please follow the same instructions and head to Rdeca Dvorana as well please proceed to the reception area of Camp Velenje We will be organizing shuttles to transport you to Rdeca Dvorana For those staying in parts of the camp that are deemed safe we advise you to remain there until further notice and we appreciate your cooperation in this challenging situation Please stay tuned for further updates and instructions from the local authorities A post shared by Atthegatesband (@atthegates_official) slovenian architectural firm enota have designed the the new velenje sports park in slovenia.the area of the new velenje sports park lies on a very important location between the city park and the lake a great number of major sports facilities and outdoor sports areas are planned constant contact with the action on the playing grounds contributes to the attractiveness of the area setting the roofed stands on the outer edges creates a large arena with a lower middle field on which the visitors can walk when it is not match time and where they have unobstructed views of the stadiums it is achieved through access control placed on narrow spots on access roots to the elevated central square in such spatial organization no additional fences athletics and football stadium are organized around a central facility with a common program which is placed under the connecting paths between the playgrounds the partial burial of the central part of complex enables separate construction of main sport objects at any time and any order the commercial public program is placed at the lakeshore side but also all the other programs of sports park are opening towards the lake and its picturesque background all the sport facilities of the area are surrounded by extensive preserved and supplemented greenery with the new sports park the city is not gaining only contemporary sports facilities intended for professional sport events at the highest level which offers a number of opportunities for active leisure and connects city center with until now somewhat truncated lake area project: velenje sports park type: open anonymous competition first prize year: 2010 status: in progress size: 29.300 m2 client: municipality of velenje location: velenje architecture: enota project team: dean lah Premogovnik Velenje (Velenje Coal Mine) continues to supply vital coal to Slovenia’s energy mix the operation representing one of the most sophisticated in Europe with plans afoot to ensure its long-term future Coal has long played a critical role in Slovenia’s energy mix the country still relies on lignite to produce around 30 percent of its electricity activities which continue to provide stable employment and form the pillar of many communities one which Janez Roser has identified himself with from a very young age I watched the parades of uniformed men on Miners’ Day and given that there were no miners in my family I watched these dignified men with even greater interest,” he recalls “This sense of pride and belonging that they radiated made a strong impression on me I enrolled in the study of geotechnology and mining engineering as I was attracted to the engineering challenges of building underground facilities I was offered the opportunity to work in the Premogovnik Velenje Group in the mine surveying and geodesy programme I am grateful to have taken the opportunity to work in the coal mining industry as our work is full of challenges – it is demanding which are certainly feelings that enrich and fulfil every individual.” Roser serves as Premogovnik Velenje’s General Manager The company operates at the Velenje Coal Mine in the Šaleška dolina valley a basin in northern Slovenia nestled in the north-eastern pre-alpine foothills The mine feeds the Šoštanj Thermal Power Plant with just over three million tonnes of coal a year which in turn produces almost a third of the electricity consumed domestically it represents a key chunk of what is a healthy and flexible Slovenian energy mix with nuclear power also accounting for around 30 percent power generation and renewables another 30 percent (hydro being the dominant player here) the country was a net importer of electricity in 2019 as a result of the closure at Rudnik Trbovlje-Hrastnik in 2013 and lower production at Velenje which today is the only operation extracting from a Slovenian lignite deposit But the site remains a national and regional flagship – an ultra-modernised mine which carries a formidable legacy behind it “Velenje Coal Mine is one of the largest and most modern deep coal mining sites in Europe,” Roser says proudly “It operates on the largest Slovenian coal deposit and on one of the thickest known coal layers in the world “In 145 years of operation of the coal mine nearly 220 million tonnes of lignite have been extracted from the lignite seam of thickness up to 165 metres and there are still more than 100 million tonnes of coal reserves here “A clean and healthy environment represents important values for the company responsible and controlled environment management has been included in our strategy In accordance with the legislation requirements Velenje Coal Mine performs monitoring of impacts of mining works on the environment (ground major activities at Velenje Coal Mine include the mechanical and electrical design of underground facilities and opencast mining designing of all types of underground facilities hydrogeological and technological services and education services – a truly multifaceted operation And this is critical when looking through a long-term lens Although the deposit’s reserves are sufficient for another three decades of mining at the current output the energy industry is shifting towards carbon neutrality a reality which Roser and Premogovnik Velenje are already planning for “Due to shifts in the energy industry and the envisaged changes in the operation of the Šoštanj Thermal Power Plant mining sites will in the most part close before lignite reserves are exploited,” Roser says “A gradual closure of the mine and the abandonment of fossil fuels at Šoštanj power plant in the future will have a significant role in the country’s energy transition as both companies represent an important energy pillar of Slovenia.” There is also the Šalek valley community to consider “The most important long-term challenge facing us is how to create attractive and well-paid jobs for the next generation,” Roser continues “There is an opportunity to improve the environment and health in the region to invest into infrastructure and create more attractive local living conditions for the local inhabitants Infrastructure that will stay after mining can be prepared in advance and take on new opportunities “There will be opportunities for new jobs in renewables which includes the production and installation of photovoltaic we need to consider strengths in coal mining which can be utilised in civil construction as well as new industries in accordance with smart specialisation strategies and industry 4.0.” But there is plenty of life still left in Velenje Coal Mine Roser calls for a balanced approach between the objectives of the European Union and Slovenia’s national policy for a competitive Coal is still abundant in supply and relatively cheap a factor which cannot be ignored when balancing environmental and economic priorities And Premogovnik Velenje continues to produce coal in a way that is reliable was first introduced in 1947 and has stood the test of time thanks to continued enhancements and innovations through the ensuing years it is described as a “method of winning coal with Roser explaining how it has evolved specifically over the past decade “The procedure of controlled winning of roof coal by ‘pouring’ over roof supports into the Longwall Chain Conveyor provides very high production capacity with an extremely high level of safety and economic return,” he says “Current mining results are comparable with the top results in Europe.” Innovation is also being adopted in numerous other ways the company carries out a total renovation of internal processes thanks to the deployment of an SAP business information system while it also upgraded the computer infrastructure of its data centre a sophisticated communications network is underpinned by extensive fibre optic and wireless systems – a setup which enables reliable operation of information systems and comprehensive control of safety and technology parameters making it a reference point among underground coal mines in Europe Roser goes on to introduce the company’s Safety and Technological Information System “The backbone of this system is formed by an optical ring in the mine with communication nodes and is extended at worksites by wireless networks,” he explains smart devices and equipment are connected to it This is the basis of the communication infrastructure for the many systems in the mine.” These can be divided into surface and mine-based programmes VTIS enables the functioning of numerous systems including: SCADA systems to control safety and technological parameters; VOIP telephony; automation and remote control of equipment such as coal conveyers crushers and ventilation stations; real-time tracking of assets via RFID; seismographs for detecting movements in the mine; and other computer equipment for reporting work data obtained data from VTIS are stored and processed in various systems such as: the coal mine control centre; Thingsboard IoT platform for analysis work; dispatch centre for mine transport; and IBM’s Maximo Enterprise Asset Management Software for predictive maintenance of machinery and equipment These systems are in turn supplemented by numerous other programmes among them a web port and app which simplifies communications between employees and company management for Roser plans to go even further down the digital path moving the organisation to paperless operations and bolstering cybersecurity defences among other priorities for the coming years biological threat which has caused most concern in 2020 The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has swept its way across Europe after emerging out of China towards the end of 2019 As well as causing very serious health issues and taking many lives the virus has also created enormous socioeconomic disruption Premogovnik Velenje could not afford to close its operations and cease supply of coal to Šoštanj Thermal Power Plant Any closure would have immediately cut off 30 percent of electricity capacity and forced the country to plug the gap with costlier imports employee welfare was and continues to be top of the agenda “We organised our work to ensure the smooth implementation of activities while taking into account all the recommendations of the National Institute for Public Health (NIJZ) and other measures to ensure we contributed to reducing the spread of the virus,” the General Manager explains “The safety of employees in the companies of the Premogovnik Velenje Group has always been our number one priority and this is also the case in emergency situations “We are very pleased that we managed to survive the first wave of the epidemic without infection among employees and for the second wave we are working on various measures on a daily basis to curb the spread of the disease in the companies of the Group.” These included installation of disinfectants across all sites adoption of a new hoist machine usage regime and use of thermal cameras and thermometers to check employee temperatures Premogovnik Velenje also limited entries to the mine cancelled all business trips and non-essential meetings inside and outside of the firm suspended group transport schemes and moved to home working where possible Roser and his leadership team prepared detailed plans for three potential scenarios – continuation of work as it is currently and Roser is determined to continue paying this much attention to detail moving forwards “Despite the easing of measures at the national level in the summer months the company followed the NIJZ recommendations without interruption and kept other necessary preventive measures to control the spread of the coronavirus as much as possible,” he adds “Given the deteriorating epidemiological picture in Slovenia and the increase in the number of infected people the consistent observance of preventive measures has proved to be the right decision and we will continue to follow this in the future.” This care and consideration for the health and wellbeing of its people also translates into Premogovnik Velenje’s relationship with the wider community the company engages in activities in the realms of sport and Roser is all too aware of how important it is for the firm’s legacy to stretch beyond simply providing economic stimulus and employment to the local area “Much importance is laid on the quality of life and work of our employees cooperation with the local community and care for the broader environment,” he says “The significance of the Velenje Coal Mine cannot solely be measured by satisfying the society’s basic need for coal – it should also be measured by direct impacts of the coal mining industry on the environment and by its attitude towards the environment The company is aware that its activity greatly affects the local environment and that they have taken a lot from the valley Areas which have been excavated are promptly rehabilitated in the eastern part of the exploration zone a tourist recreation centre and stadium have been built alongside the construction of hiking running and cycling routes and installation of 100 benches These are used by inhabitants of the area and visitors with Roser also pointing to the Coal Mining Museum of Slovenia which was opened in 1999 in the abandoned pits of the Škale mine presenting the coal mining tradition of the Šaleška dolina valley in its authentic environment “It is comprised of original rooms on the surface the calling room and sections of the underground part of the mine,” the General Manager describes the multi-vision presentation and scenes with lifesize puppets of coalminers will give you an insight of the work in a coal mine both in the past and present day theatre plays and birthday parties as well as children’s Bergmandelc workshops for the youngest visitors “With its contribution to the development of the Šaleška valley the Velenje Coal Mine has proven that it has been and will continue to be a key driver of development in the area.” and this is also the case in emergency situations” such development will inevitably involve a diversification away from coal over the next couple of decades as the company and its subsidiaries have developed numerous other activities through its 145-year history it employs people across an array of professions with transferable skills that can be applied to non-coal endeavours and plans are already being developed for more market-oriented programmes that will reduce dependence on coal mining we are well aware of the necessity of transitioning into a carbon-free society which is why we have joined the inter-ministerial working group set up by the Ministry of Infrastructure,” Roser adds “The Group prepared restructuring measures for coal mining regions and will coordinate activities linked to the preparation of legal bases for the adoption of a regional strategy for the restructuring of such regions and the adoption of a national strategy for the phase-out of coal in line with the principles of a fair transition “The Velenje Coal Mine wishes to actively cooperate in further development of the Šaleška dolina valley and the entire of Slovenia and Slovenia needs different energy resources such as hydro thermal and nuclear to ensure its prosperity in the future.” and Roser is determined to keep enhancing the way Premogovnik Velenje goes about its staple business Stabilisation and optimisation of operations form the crux of the General Manager’s immediate plans the ultimate goal being to facilitate more profitable activities that in turn will enable investment into the long-term plans already described Central to this is continuing investment in people the employment and retirement of employees is carried out in accordance with the realisation of business plans,” Roser explains “We pay special attention to the appropriate transfer of knowledge between employees and the mentoring process as we are aware of the importance of maintaining key jobs and key skills “Due to the specifics of our work and the consequent rapid retirement of employees in underground mining jobs (our employees retire on average at the age of 53) the retirement of these employees are appropriately replaced and we follow a system of successions that enables quality career development of individuals We are therefore optimistic about the future as we believe that the quality of our staff is our key advantage for tomorrow we still strive to preserve traditional values such as comradeship which are unfortunately disappearing in the modern society but are of extreme significance in the coal production process.” We use cookies to ensure your best experience on our website. If you continue using our website, we'll assume you agree to our cookie policy 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 Local firm Enota won an Architizer A+ Award for the Promenada and platforms of varying height and depth are arranged at angles right along the riverbed or relax by the water in a space that combines the built environment and greenery The promenade also incorporates a small stage and amphitheater-like seating for public performances while walkways spread outward to connect to surrounding buildings In renovating the Promenada, Enota, talking to Dezeen hoped to “supply the city with the missing programs and to help it reclaim its original character of a town-in-a-park .. The river may once again claim an important spot in the townspeople's consciousness.” Via: Dezeen Sign in/UpRegister nowWhy RegisterWORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPSBEIJING (NATIONAL STADIUM) Mariya Abakumova launches her spear in Rome (© Giancarlo Colombo) HANDBALL THROUGH MY EYES: The EHF Champions League star speaks about her iconic one-on-one skills and her mindset on the court DRAW: Recent champions meet and potential first-time winners clash in hotly-anticipated semi-finals after TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4 semi-final… DRAW: The four sides who made it through the qualification tournaments now know who they will face in Cologne QUARTER-FINAL REVIEW: A 30:29 victory for Szeged was not enough to book their first ticket to Cologne, as the record title winners proceeded QUARTER-FINAL REVIEW: After 120 minutes, a single goal separated the 2023 title winners and Veszprém, as Magdeburg reached the semi-finals QUARTER-FINAL REVIEW: 2018 finalists end Sporting CP’s Machineseeker EHF Champions League journey with second quarter-final win QUARTER-FINAL REVIEW: After a nine-goal win in the first leg, Mathias Gidsel & co. also take the points in Aalborg HANDBALL THROUGH MY EYES: Versatile One Veszprém back Nedim Remili reveals why he loves handball, and how to switch positions on court OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Court of Handball issues further decision regarding withdrawal of Vipers from EHF Champions League NEWS: Györi Audi ETO KC will meet Team Esbjerg, and Metz Handball will play against Odense Håndbold on 31 May in the MVM Dome in Budapest. CHELSEA starlet Karlo Ziger has become the latest member of the Blues’ famous loan army. The Croatian goalkeeper, 20, has joined Slovenian Second League side NK Rudar Velenje until the end of the season. It is the stopper’s second temporary switch away from Stamford Bridge. He previously had a brief spell at then non-league Sutton United in 2019. Ziger made his senior football debut in the one-game emergency loan. The FA Trophy clash may have finished 3-0 to Spennymoor but Ziger took home his team's man of the match award before heading back to Chelsea. The ace shot to prominence amongst Chelsea fans when they noticed a new face on the bench as Krasnodar were dispatched in the Champions League last October. Ziger sat alongside veteran Willy Caballero as the Blues won 4-0 in his first venture into a senior squad. The Zagreb-born teenager signed a pro contract at Chelsea in July 2018 but he was handed a 12-month extension after joining up with first-team training last term He is now the third keeper to leave the club for further experience on loan with Nathan Baxter heading to Hull City and Jamie Cumming going to Gillingham Ziger is the 13th player to be loaned out by the Blues so far this window ⚽ Read our Chelsea live blog for the very latest news from the Bridge FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS QUARTER-FINAL REVIEW: A 30:29 victory for Szeged was not enough to book their first ticket to Cologne a single goal separated the 2023 title winners and Veszprém QUARTER-FINAL REVIEW: After a nine-goal win in the first leg HANDBALL THROUGH MY EYES: Versatile One Veszprém back Nedim Remili reveals why he loves handball NEWS: Györi Audi ETO KC will meet Team Esbjerg and Metz Handball will play against Odense Håndbold on 31 May in the MVM Dome in Budapest.