Czech Government Plans to Ban Coal for Home Heating by 2025

The Ministry of the Environment has announced its intention to implement a ban on the sale of coal for home heating starting from January 2025.

This move aims to encourage individuals who currently rely on coal as a heating source to evaluate the condition of their stoves and coal supplies and explore alternative options.

Under the proposed amendment to the Air Protection Act, combustion appliances powered by solid fossil fuels with a capacity of up to 300 kilowatts will no longer be permitted to enter the market as of January 1, 2025.

Lucie Ješátková, the spokesperson for the ministry, has confirmed the plans, stating, “The ban on introducing combustion sources using solid fossil fuels up to 300 kilowatts to the market will be implemented from January 1, 2025.” However, the sale of existing coal stockpiles will still be allowed after this date.

It’s worth noting that the ban does not extend to certain types of coal, such as brown and black coal, anthracite, and coal briquettes. Czech manufacturers will still be permitted to produce coal-fired stoves for export.

This measure is seen as a proactive step in preparation for the expected limited availability of coal and in line with the country’s climate commitments.

Ješátková has clarified that the ban does not affect those already utilizing coal in their existing heating sources. Therefore, individuals will be able to continue using their coal-fired stoves, but they will no longer be able to purchase new ones within the country.

Theoretically, they could acquire them from abroad, but may encounter difficulties with obtaining certified installations.

Coal remains a popular choice for heating in many households due to its affordability. According to TZB-info.cz, the total annual cost for heating a home with coal, including electricity consumption and fixed payments, amounts to around 46,000 Czech koruna, which is comparable to the expenses associated with wood heating.

In contrast, households using gas for heating face an additional annual cost of 30,000 CZK, while those relying on electric heaters encounter expenses that are 60,000 CZK higher.

Additionally, next year will see the prohibition of old solid fuel-fired boilers classified as emission classes 1 and 2. The original deadline for this phase-out was last year, but the government extended it by two years due to high inflation and rising energy prices.