
Velenje – In Slovenia’s Šaleška Valley, home to the country’s sole operational coal mine, contracts were signed on Tuesday for the initial phase of a district heating transformation project, primarily funded by European resources. The plan aims to phase out coal as a heating source by 2033, transitioning to renewable energy alternatives.
This transformation of the district heating system in the Šaleška Valley is crucial for the restructuring of the Savinja-Šaleška region and is part of the 2021-2027 European cohesion policy program, particularly under the just transition mechanism. The entire transformation will unfold in three phases leading up to 2033, facilitating the gradual elimination of coal and the shift to renewable energy sources.
The first phase involves overhauling the district heating system, the second phase focuses on replacing coal with renewable energy options, and the third phase emphasizes energy renovations of buildings and encourages changes in user behavior, including citizen habits.
The representative of the European Commission in Slovenia, Jerneja Jug Jerše, expressed her enthusiasm for the project’s commencement. “I hope this initiative will demonstrate that Europe is not an abstract notion but a tangible response to today’s challenges, incorporating the insights and needs of the local community,” she stated. (July 1)













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