The Velenje Coal Mine, Cutting coal with extraction machine Eickhoff SL 300 (combine)

About the sound

The Velenje Coal Mine ( Premogovnik Velenje, d. o. o. ) is a technologically advanced company with lignite mining as its primary activity. With an over 140-year tradition (established in 1875) in lignite mining, it is firmly rooted in the Slovenian energy economics. At today’s mining output, there are enough deposits of the Velenje lignite for another four decades of the coal mine operation. Due to changes in the energy industry and the envisaged changes in the operation of the thermal power plant, mining sites will probably close before lignite reserves are exhausted.
It is the last fully operating coal mine in Slovenia, so that was a great opportunity to record the sounds and soundscapes of practically whole production underground (more than 20 different sounds). Part of the mine tunnels became a museum.

Sound recordist: Dušan Oblak
Photographer: Miran Beškovnik
Video: Irena Marušič, Katarina Batagelj