Tisa – this will be the future name of the tunnel boring machine that will drive the mine water channel from the central shaft to Oeynhausen’s shaft 1. The name was given to the Dorsten artist Tisa von der Schulenburg, who was closely associated with the hard coal mining industry. She not only thematised mining artistically, but also distinguished herself through a high degree of solidarity with the miners.
During a festive ceremony on 4th August 2023, the second tunnel boring machine for the construction of the mine water channel of the former Ibbenbüren mine of RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, was symbolically christened by Pastor Andreas Finke and Pastor Paul Konnadur at the central shaft of the mine water channel (Figure 1). It is the second tunnel boring machine to be used for the construction of the mine water channel. It will drive a length of 3,867 m in the east section. In future, the mine water from the Ibbenbüren mine will be fed via the mine water channel to the new mine water treatment plant currently under construction in Gravenhorst.
Peter Schrimpf, Chairman of the RAG Board of Management: “The excavation of the mine water channel in Ibbenbüren is a very special project for us in many respects. It is, so to speak, the last excavation in the German hard coal mining industry. It is also an outstanding project in terms of investment volume. And it is a prime example of sustainability and the environmentally friendly handling of mine water. I wish us all continued success with the project. Above all, I wish everyone involved on the construction site good health. Occupational safety and the integrity of our employees and partners is and remains an essential element of our corporate culture.”
The channel is scheduled to be commissioned in 2025. (RAG /Si.)
