Serbian state-owned power utility EPS said that a fire broke out in the Kolubara coal mining basin in the evening hours of 10 January, but it was promptly extinguished, with no casualties.
The incident took place at the Tamnava-Zapadno Polje open pit, when a large excavator used to deposit mine tailings caught fire. The fire was extinguished in four hours.
Director of open pit mines at Kolubara basin Srdjan Alimpijevic said that the tailing-management system is currently down, adding that the damage assessment is in progress and the excavator will be repaired. The incident did not affect the mine’s output and the coal mining
operations continue with no disruptions. Also, there will be no disruptions in the electricity generation process.
