News in Brief 2024

The Board of Executives of the RAG-Stiftung, Essen/Germany, published the figures for the past financial year and offered insights into developments during the current year at its annual press conference at the Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site in Essen on 11th June 2024 (Figure 1). Although the overall economic conditions remained difficult, the foundation was nonetheless able to report an ...

After around 15 months of construction, the first section of the 7.4 km-long mine water channel has been driven. The breakthrough after 3.2 km marks an important milestone for the long-term water drainage in Ibbenbüren. “Today is a special day for RAG. We have completed the first stage of the mine water channel. My thanks go in particular to the miners involved. ...

Iqony GmbH, Essen/Germany, the green growth division of the Essen-based STEAG Group, is merging its solar and wind business into a joint business unit. The subsidiary, under whose umbrella both business areas will be bundled in future, has been operating as Iqony Sustainable Energy Solutions GmbH (Iqony Sens) since 30th May 2024 (Figure 1). “The integration of the two previous ...

The effects of the European elections are also being felt in the energy sector. Institutes, associations and family businesses are complaining about the poor state of the German economy, which is primarily due to high energy prices. Germany is one of the world’s most expensive countries for electricity. Furthermore, Germany has become a net importer of electricity – bad news ...

VA Erzberg GmbH, Eisenerz/Austria, Europe’s largest open-pit iron ore mine, in collaboration with EIT RawMaterials, the leading raw materials innovation and knowledge network, launched the VA Erzberg Net-Zero Iron Ore Challenge – Innovative Siderite Processing & Carbonate Valorization (Figure 1). The initiative is an urgent call for start-ups, SMEs, research groups, universities and innovators to propose sustainable solutions for reducing ...

South Harz Potash Ltd., West Perth/Australia, is pleased to advise that it has been granted the Spatial Planning Assessment for its Ohmgebirge Potash Development, the flagship asset within its 100 %-owned South Harz Potash Project located in central Germany. The Spatial Planning application for Ohmgebirge was formally submitted to the relevant regulator, Thüringer Landesverwaltungsamt (TLVwA), in December 2023. This application incorporated ...

Michael Seeger: Kapital im Bergbau, 1st edition, 251 p., Springer Gabler, ISBN 978-3-031-16358-2, 69.99 € The supply of mineral resources is of crucial importance for the further development of our society. These resources must be sustainably mined in existing mines, but also in new mines that are yet to be developed. The development, operation and, after closure, the management of the legacy ...

Researchers and startups are invited to apply for the first VA Erzberg Innovation Challenge. VA Erzberg Net-Zero Iron Ore Challenge seeks solutions in Innovative Siderite Processing & Carbonate Valorization Applications open until 29. September 2024 VA Erzberg, Europe’s largest open-pit iron ore mine, in collaboration with EIT RawMaterials, the leading raw materials innovation and knowledge network, launched the VA Erzberg ...

In 2022, STEAG GmbH, Essen/Germany, brought around 2.5 GW of additional power plant capacity back onto the market. Of all the power plant operators, this was the biggest contribution to ensuring security of supply in Germany during the recent energy crisis. These plants are now being withdrawn from the market, but are to remain in the grid reserve. When the ...

Hard coal-fired power generation has been a tradition in Herne/Germany since the 1960s. Back then, the first power plant unit, Herne 1, went into operation. STEAG GmbH, Essen/Germany, continued this tradition with the commissioning of unit Herne 4 in 1989 – and continues to do so today. The plant, with a net generation capacity of 460 MW, can supply more ...