The population in the southern part of the Labin region started mining almost 400 years ago. Ever since then, mining in these areas has been continuously developing. Not only people from Labin and the surrounding area found employment here, but also people from the whole of Istria. Labin mining reached its peak after the First World War when Labin mines were known as being the most modern in Europe, and employing more than 10,000 workers. Record production was reached in 1942 with 1,158,000 tons of coal. After the Second World War, Istrian coal miners played a very important role in the post-war reconstruction. However, large coal reserves caused a decline in coal production, and in the 1970s the mine began to be gradually closed. Most of the mines were closed in the 1980s, mostly due to unprofitability, while mining production has been continued by the new company, Istrian Coal Mines Tupljak. Unfortunately, in 1999, they also closed the pit, which also resulted in the closure of the last coal mine in Croatia.