News in Brief 2025

The path to a climate-neutral heating supply in Constance/Germany is picking up speed: The municipal council has given the green light for the establishment of a joint project company between Stadtwerke Konstanz, Constance, and Iqony Energies GmbH, Saarbrücken/Germany. The company, which is part of the Steag Iqony Group, Essen/Germany, works with local authorities and municipal utilities to implement and operate ...

On 18th and 19th June 2026, the MiningForum will once again take place at the Hotel Estrel Berlin, Berlin/Germany, and bring together leading experts, decision-makers and thought leaders from the German, European and international raw materials industry. As one of the most important networking platforms, the conference has been dedicated to the pressing challenges and opportunities of a sustainable raw ...

The Coal Importers Association e. V. (VDKi), Berlin/Germany, is calling on the new German government to allow the introduction of CO2 capture systems (CCU/CCS) for the modern and newer hard coal-fired power plants in Wilhelmshaven, in the Ruhr region (Duisburg, Datteln, Lünen) and in the south-west (Mannheim, Karlsruhe). The coalition agreement provides for the introduction of CCU/CCS technology for industry and ...

Increasing geopolitical pressure, particularly Chinese sanctions on key raw materials, is highlighting Europe’s vulnerability when it comes to security of supply. Delays and even jeopardising production in industrial value chains are the result. “The VDMA is therefore calling for a consistent European raw materials strategy. Further raw materials partnerships must be concluded at EU level. In addition, we must utilise ...

Frenz/Müggenborg/Cosack/Ruttloff/Schomerus (eds.): EEG 2023, Kommentar, 6th completely revised edition, 1,528 p., Erich Schmidt Verlag, ISBN 978-3-503-19930-3, 230.00 € (Figure 1). The new edition of the commentary on the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), published on 30th May 2025, offers competent and reliable explanations of the provisions of the EEG for legal practice. The instructive scientific and technical digressions on the most important ...

Backfilling of shafts XII and 2 on the grounds of the Zollverein World Heritage Site in Essen/Germany began in spring 2023. The shaft work is now being completed (Figure 1). In consultation with authorities, politicians and scientists, RAG Aktiengesell­schaft, Essen, has developed a concept for the long-term optimisation of mine water management in the Ruhr area. To this end, water ...

The question of how sustainable digitalisation can be achieved in post-mining was the focus of the symposium “Nachbergbauzeit NRW 2025 – Digitalisation meets tradition” held on 20th March 2025 at the Student Centre of the TH Georg Agricola University (THGA) in Bochum/Germany (Figure 1). Around 250 participants were able to experience in a variety of presentations and direct exchanges how much ...

On 1st May 2025, Ivonne Arenz (Figure 1) took over as managing director of the Association for Mining, Geology and the Environment (VBGU), Berlin/Germany. She succeeded Olaf Alisch, who is now taking well-deserved retirement after almost 20 years of successful service to the VBGU. “Thanks to European regulations and in view of the global constraints, the topic of “domestic mining” ...

The decline in energy consumption in Germany has slowed. In 2024, primary energy consumption fell by 1.1 % to 10,538 PJ or 359.6 Mtce compared to the previous year (Figure 1). In 2023, the decline was still just under 8 %. According to calculations by the Working Group on Energy Balances (AG Energiebilanzen), energy consumption in Germany is currently just under 30 % ...

Following a meeting of the Supervisory Board of BAUER AG, Peter Hingott will be stepping down as a member of the Executive Board. Supervisory Board member Klaus Pöllath has been appointed to the Executive Board by the Supervisory Board – his position on the Supervisory Board is suspended. Klaus Pöllath has been a member of the Supervisory Board of BAUER ...