NWR’s operations are efficiently run. Our coal and coke are quality products and our services are noted for their reliability. We have strong and long-lasting customer relationships. All these factors help provide a firm foundation for the future.
As Central Europe’s leading hard coal mining company, we are a preferred supplier of coal and coking products to a blue chip customer base in the Czech Republic and neighbouring countries including Poland, Austria, Slovakia and Germany.
NWR has strong, long-term relationships with its key customers governed by well established framework agreements. We are closely integrated into their operations with customer production facilities configured to exploit the particular characteristics of our coal. Given the quality of our coal and coke, our proximity to our customers, and our improving productivity, we remain a cost effective and more reliable supplier compared with our Polish counterparts.
Our principal activity of hard coal mining is conducted through our wholly-owned subsidiary, OKD. We produce quality coking coal and thermal coal (also known as steam coal). Coking coal is used as a raw material in steel production, and thermal coal is sold to electricity producers, industrial users and other energy producers. Traditionally, coking coal commands higher prices and generates higher revenues with higher margins relative to thermal coal.
NWR has 407 million tonnes1 of JORC2 reserves. We operate four mines covering an area of 120 square kilometres, in the Upper Silesian coal basin of the northeast region of the Czech Republic. The four facilities are Darkov, Karvina, Paskov, and CSM. The highest quality coking coal is produced from the Paskov mine. Our four mines have 23 shafts extracting coal from depths ranging from 600 to 1,000m below the surface. Mines are operating seven days a week with coal production on six days and a day for maintenance. Coal seams range in thickness from 0.8m to 8m. Each mine has its own processing plant, which receives, processes and blends coal.
NWR is one of the Czech Republic’s largest industrial groups by assets and revenues and one of the largest private sector employers.
For further information please refer to the Business Review of the Annual Report & Accounts 2009.
Group Structure
1 As at 1 January 2010
2 Full name: Joint Ore Reserves Committee. The Group currently uses both the FSU system and the JORC system in parallel to report reserves and resources. The Group employs a certified geologist who prepares the reserve numbers in accordance with JORC certified expert.
