Baňa Cígeľ

Useful Information

Location:
Open:
Fee:
Classification:	Lignite Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:	L=580 m, Mine train: L=2,312 m. D=3 h.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Hornonitrianske bane Prievidza, a.s., Matice slovenskej 10, 971 01, Prievidza, Tel: +421-46-542-3121, Fax: +421-46-541-2106. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Middle Ages	archaeological excavations show use of lignite.
~1900	beginning of industrial exploitation near Handlová.
1950	new plants built on deposits outside Upper Nitra, Slovak Coal Mines Trust founded.
01-JUL-1955	reformed into Coal and Lignite Mines.
1970s	transformed into the Coal and Lignite Mines Concern.
1993	divided into seven independent subjects by the government decree.
01-JUL-1996	transformed into the National Property Fund, a joint-stock company.
01-JAN-2003	Baňa Cígeľ and Bana Novaky merged.

Geology

The brown coal or lignite is found in the Upper Nitra Basin.

Description

The lignite or brown coal mine Baňa Cígeľ (Cigel Colliery) is really impressive. The three-hour tour includes an introduction with security regulations and some background on the mining. Visitors dress up with helmet and then mount the mine train. This is a monorail hanging on a single iron rail on the ceiling. The trains go in 2,312 m where the 580 m tourist course starts. Finally, the visitors have to ride back on the train to the surface. The train has a maximum speed of 12 km/h, so the ride takes about 15 minutes.

Hornonitrianske Bane Prievidza (Upper Nitra Coal Mines) is the most important producer of lignite in the Slovak Republic. Lignite is the only domestic primary energy source in the country.