ABSTRACT
The energy market in the Czech Republic is liberalising. The newly accepted state energy policy set new priorities including EU-friendly legislation. According medium-term policy, brown coal mining will continue to play important role in the energy mix over next 40 years. Such strategy calls for investment allocation into new mining equipment for opencast mine sites. Actually, the principal issues for producers of mining equipment are strengthened need of eliminating negative environmental impacts related to the operation within the densely populated landscape. New requirements cover also greater operator efficiency and comfort and improved maintenance and serviceability by minimising of human work. The Vitkovice-Prodeco, j.s.c. manufactures and supplies new equipment in response to set of regulation according ISO 14000 and relevant EU standards.
