town, northern Slovenia. It lies 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Celje on the Paka River. Velenje was built as a model mine-workers' town with distinct administrative, business, residential, and recreational areas. It is adjacent to a major lignite mine in the Celje coal basin. There is a power plant, a chemical works, an electrical machinery factory, and a mining school. Pop. (1994 est.) 27,142.