Background information

On 12 July 2023, the National project 'The use of geothermal energy in Košice basin' was approved. The Commission at the Monitoring Committee for Slovakia 2021-2027 Program for the Just Transition Fund did it. The primary goal of the project is to utilize the potential of geothermal energy in Košice basin and thereby increase the share of renewable energy sources in the heat supplied to Košice city central heat supply system. Achieving the goals will result in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) in accordance with the goals of Slovakia PSK Program, as well as the goals of the adopted Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan for 2021-2030. The construction work is scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2024 and is expected to take 24 months.

Content of measure

This National project (NP) will support the construction of the Geothermal center and a 15 kilometers-long hot water feeder. The geothermal water will circulate: the volume of water taken from the underground will return back to the underground, where it will be heated and used again. Since the beginning of 2026, the supply of geothermal heat to Kosice central heat supply system is expected in the amount of 65 GWh per year. In 2030, it should be 175 GWh and within five years it could potentially be more than 300 GWh per year. The project will also have a positive impact on the air quality, heat prices and energy availability for users. By completely eliminating the burning of coal and reducing the consumption of natural gas in the heating plant, CO2 emissions may be reduced by up to 50,000 tons per year. The total authorized expenses of the NP are declared at €87.727 million, of which €56.1 million will be covered from the EU resources and €31.6 million from recipient's own resources (Geoterm Košice).

Use of measure

Implementation of the construction of Geothermal center and the hot water pipeline will ensure heat supply to more than 170,000 customers. Heat consumers located around the hot pipe are the secondary target group. The MH Teplárenský holding (applicant) supplies approximately 78,000 housing units, 300 schools and school facilities, 9 medical facilities as well as shopping galleries, business centers and sports and cultural facilities with heat and hot water. With a total of 952 collection points from primary distributions, it represents the largest system of the central heat supply system in Slovakia.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Applies to all businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies Local / regional government EU (Council, EC, EP)	Companies European Funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Social partners jointly
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Social partners participated in the design of the project - they were at the meeting of the Commission at the monitoring committee for the Program Slovakia 2021-2027 for the Just Transformation Fund on 12 July 2023. At this meeting, they agreed to allocate funds for this project.

Views and reactions

At the Commission meeting, one comment was made by the social partners. Trade unionist J. Košč reminded that reducing the use of black coal will have an impact on the employment of railway workers as well. Therefore, it is necessary to involve these workers in projects to compensate for potential loss of jobs.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 12 July 2023: Národný projekt Využitie geotermálnej energie v Košickej kotline (eurofondy.gov.sk)
• 12 July 2023: Zasadnutie Komisie FST - 12. júl 2023 (eurofondy.gov.sk)