The Lužice complex following renovation

The completion of the boreholes near Košice shows that deep geothermal energy can serve as a stable source of energy even in Central Europe. At the same time, however, it raises questions about where this type of project makes sense and how quickly it can be scaled up. Radovan Jedlička, Head of Business Development at MND Drilling & Services, discusses the potential, limitations and further opportunities.

Three boreholes up to 3.6 kilometres deep, positive results and a satisfied client. MND Drilling and Services has successfully completed a geothermal drilling project for Košice, which will supply heat to around a fifth of the population of Slovakia’s second-largest city. The client was Geoterm Košice, in which the Slovak state holds a majority stake.

If you’d met Ondřej Zháněl when he was eighteen and told him he’d one day become a winemaker, he’d probably have tapped his forehead in disbelief. The son of an artistic blacksmith, growing up in Břeclav, he had a field behind his house where, at most, beetroot and potatoes were grown. Wine? That certainly didn’t feature in his plans back then.

Rudolf Jakubík joined MND by chance in 1977. After his military service, he worked in a bank, where, during a tour, he met the head of the information systems department at the MND in Hodonín among the visitors. One thing led to another, a job offer came along, and even a higher salary. Although the promised computers remained more of a dream for the time being, Ruda took a step that changed his life for the next 49 years.

Renewable energy sources have become a key topic in recent years. Everyone is familiar with solar and wind power plants, but there is another source that stands out for its stability, reliability and minimal dependence on weather conditions. However, it is not talked about as much
. Geothermal energy – heat accumulated in the Earth's crust – is one of the most promising types of clean energy, especially at a time when the need for stable, low-emission sources is growing.

After years of preparation, the geothermal project has finally begun. The idea of heating Košice with geothermal energy had been in the works for many years. The first surveys in the Svinica–Ďurkov area were conducted in the 1990s and confirmed the extraordinary potential of hot water several kilometres below the ground. However, at that time, there was a lack of funding and political consensus to implement the project.

Foreign projects are a strategic pillar for MND Drilling & Services. They bring stable utilization of our rigs, long-term contracts and strengthen our position on the European market. They allow us to invest in upgrading technology, developing people and raising safety standards. And most importantly, we are proving that we can succeed in strong international competition and are among Europe's leading drilling contractors.

MND Germany GmbH has established itself as a respected drilling contractor in the German market over the past few years. Thanks to its emphasis on quality, safety and flexibility, MND Germany has managed to establish a strong position amongst its competitors and is currently successfully completing a one-year drilling campaign for one of the country's largest operators, Harbour Energy, with 40 rigs, building on the activities of the former Wintershall Dea.

This year, for the first time, our company MND Drilling & Services joined the charity running challenge Run for the Memory of the Nation, organized by the non-profit organization Post Bellum. The challenge runs throughout May and aims to support the filming of remembrances of veterans, educational programmes for schools and help heroes who stood up to totalitarian regimes or are fighting for freedom today.

The last drilling here was in the summer of 2023. While the frogs were croaking then, now, at the end of winter, there are plenty of hares and deer roaming the surrounding fields. And in the evenings, beavers are regularly seen cupitating in the adjacent Burnt Creek.