Fico: Government Will Prepare New Law on Geothermal Water and Boreholes

Handlova, September 6 (TASR) - The government will prepare new legislation on geothermal waters and boreholes, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said at a press briefing on Friday following his work programme in the town of Handlova (Trencin region). The law, which should be prepared by the Environment Ministry together with the Economy Ministry, should also help mining company Upper Nitra Mines Prievidza (HBP) in connection with its activities in the field of energy. Fico described the new heat source built on renewable energy sources, which was implemented by thermal management company Prievidzske tepelne hospodarstvo (the majority shareholder is the town of Prievidza, and a minority share is held by Upper Nitra Mines Employees), as an extremely serious achievement of HBP in the field of energy. "We talked with HBP about how we could help them, especially in the legislative area. I'll immediately approach the environment minister [Tomas Taraba (an SNS nominee)] so that he together with the economy minister [Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD)] submitted a completely new law on geothermal water and boreholes. Today it's a whole package of laws that makes life very complicated for those who want to use such water," noted the premier. Fico pointed out that the main topic of the working meeting in Handlova was the situation of HBP after the decline of coal mining. The prime minister stated that the company is making every effort to ensure that all those, who want, will find a job, either directly in the mines or through retraining. In connection with his working trip to Handlova, the premier stressed that he didn't come there "to lick his wounds". "I'm the prime minister and I have to make various inspection visits, the aim of which is to evaluate how various decisions taken by the government are being implemented," stated Fico, announcing in this context another cabinet meeting and an inspection of hospital projects. am/mcs