The Slovenian Government has approved a draft law outlining the gradual shutdown of the Velenje coalmine, marking a major step toward fulfilling the country’s pledge to phase out coal by 2033. Natural Resources and Spatial Planning Minister Jože Novak explained that the proposal has been under development for an extended period, and the Ministry aims for its adoption before the end of the current parliamentary mandate.
The draft introduces a 20-year closure program extending until 2045. It does not regulate future coal extraction volumes, as those decisions will depend on the operational needs of the Šoštanj thermal power plant. Instead, the legislation focuses on establishing a comprehensive legal framework for the orderly, supervised and financially controlled shutdown of the mine, including the procedures for its eventual liquidation. Accompanying the draft law are a long-term closure strategy and an initial two-year operational plan.
A central element of the proposal is the set of social protections for mine employees. These include early retirement options tied to age or profession, severance packages, various financial allowances and opportunities for retraining.
Between 2026 and 2045, the Government expects to allocate more than 1.13 billion euros from the national budget to support the program—approximately 50 million euros per year. The draft specifies that most closure-related activities should be funded by the mine itself through coal sales and the disposal of non-essential assets, while state contributions will cover the remaining financial gap.
As the law constitutes a form of state aid, it requires notification and approval from the European Commission before it can be enacted. The provisions will become legally effective only after parliamentary adoption, publication in the Official Gazette, and Commission clearance. Under the current timetable, the legislation is expected to come into force on 1 July 2026.
