Fachartikel

There are many who believe that Germany’s lignite industry has no future. After all, the country has committed itself to the energy transition and it is a fact that Germany’s ongoing turnaround in its energy policy will gradually drive lignite out of the energy mix. For the mining companies this means having to safeguard lignite supplies as a reserve for ...

The authors have successfully completed several desktop studies for German and international coal producers over the past two years. The main focus of these studies was on the one hand on the presentation of the market environment for sustainable synthetic fuels and on the other hand on the explanation of the technical and technological process and plant concept of ALF-FT ...

This paper reviews the developments that affected the coal markets in 2016 and assesses the prospects for 2017. It also reports on market developments in Germany and on energy policy actions and goes on to examine the social responsibilities of the coal importers as far as coal production is concerned (CSR). These observations are based on the Annual Report of ...

After a history stretching back more than 200 hundred years the German coal industry will close down for good at the end of 2018. The Essen-based RAG company is now committed to finding solutions for the inherited liabilities of the mining industry that will prove sustainable in the long term. Yet the transition to the post-mining era will not happen ...

For more than two and a half years, the Network Mining “Smart Mining Global” has been dealing with the concerns of mining related companies in North Rhine-Westphalia. The network is organised by the EnergyAgency.NRW on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The main focus lies on medium-sized enterprises of the supplying industry. By ...

Eight in ten of Germany’s mid-sized companies generate a significant part of their turnover abroad – and the same goes for many mining suppliers too. In spite of current uncertainties and geopolitical crises nearly one in every two small and medium-sized companies intends to maintain its overseas business strategy for the next three to five years and many are even ...

Synergy is a buzzword that produces different reactions. It gives some people the creeps, while it makes others’ eyes light up. But beware: every cooperation agreement, tie-up or takeover in the mergers and acquisitions sector is now justified with the casual promise of a synergy effect, though in many cases the projected improvements are not specifically named. The motto “unity ...

Since its mechanisation – mainly 1950s to 1970s – and first approaches for automation of single processes – since late 1980s – the mining industry is now developing solutions for complete automation systems for independent mine sections or, ideally, entire mines. Applications will be found first in countries of intensive mining activities, such as the USA and Australia, as well as ...

BIOMOre is an EU funded project within the Horizon 2020 funding scheme that addresses the topic “Mining of small and complex deposits and alternative mining”. This three year project, started in February 2015, comprises 23 partners located in nine different countries with five universities being included. Germany, Poland, Austria, United Kingdom, Finland, France, Sweden, Spain and South Africa are involved. ...

Mine tailings are often disposed of in slurry dumps. Older facilities of this kind may include relating dams that have been poorly designed and constructed. This can pose a threat to local residents and the environment. Progressive oxidation can result in the dissolution of metals. This may impose an increased pollution burden on the aquifers. The stability and design of ...