DMT GmbH & Co. KG

The 6th Essen expert discussion on mining waste disposal sites took place on 9th March at DMT GmbH & Co. KG in Essen/Germany and focussed entirely on the forth-coming legal and organisational changes relating to the disposal and permanent storage of radioactive waste. One key topic was the challenges faced by the industry in terms of transferring existing expertise into new structures, the upcoming start of the “site selection process” centennial project and developments in other countries.

After the presentation of a final report compiled by the “Kommission Lagerung hoch radioaktiver Abfallstoffe” (Commission on the storage of highly radioactive waste materials) in July 2016, 2017 is being shaped by the legal implementation of the commission‘s recommendations, as well as by fundamental changes to the organisational structure in the disposal of radioactive waste. The new Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung (BGE) is a federally owned permanent storage company, which is to be merged with the current DBE mbH, Asse GmbH and the operator parts of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS). Expertise has to be pooled in time to start the “site selection process” project and the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BfE) has to be established as the new supervisory body.

In view of these fundamental shifts in responsibility, the transfer of expertise will be a significant challenge over the coming years. Exchanging information and experience took centre stage at the 6th Essen expert discussion on mining waste disposal sites, to which around 150 specialists from the industry, research and public authorities accepted their invitation from DMT, GNS Gesellschaft für Nuklear-Service mbH and DBE TECHNOLOGY GmbH.

Another expert discussion on mining waste disposal sites is due to take place in Essen next year. The seventh edition of the event is due to take place on 1st March. (DMT, Si.)

The new Uvalnaya coking coal mine is being established near Novokuznetsk in Russia (Figure 1). There are four coal seams at a depth of 100 to 400 m that range in thickness from 2 m to 3.5 m. The German institutions DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Essen, and RWTH Aachen have analyzed the coal. Coking tests performed by DMT have shown that the coking coal has several exceptional properties.

In light of rising coal prices, this investment has come at exactly the right time. Coking coal mines are being closed across the globe and there is scarcely any new investment in the sector. However, the coal in Uvalnaya has excellent market opportunities, particularly once the steel industry starts to pick up steam again.

“I have never seen coal like this in Russia, even in the neighbourhood of the new mine,” comments Ingo Elsner, Head of Trading within the RAG Group. The special feature of this coking coal is its low internal gas pressure. Many coking coals from other deposits display excessively high internal gas pressure, which can damage the coke ovens at the coking plants. It is now possible to compensate for unpleasant properties of this kind by adding coal from the new Uvalnaya mine. Elsner: “I know many coking plants that are looking for precisely this coal, as they need to add around 30 % to achieve the perfect mix. The DMT certificate confirms this: “Many properties of the Uvalnaya coal are very favourable for a hard coking coal” and: “The quality of the coke from the first test shows good CRI and CSR values”.

Alongside DMT and RWTH Aachen, other German companies are involved in the mine, including GTA Maschinensysteme GmbH, Hamminkeln, SMT Scharf GmbH, Hamm, Becker Mining Systems AG, Friedrichsthal, CFT GmbH, Gladbeck, Aumund Fördertechnik GmbH, Rheinberg, and Hauhinco Maschinenfabrik G. Hausherr Jochums GmbH & Co. KG, Sprockhövel, – suppliers that are known worldwide for their high-grade products. The mine is equipped with the latest technology. This guarantees a high safety standard and high performance.

Work on the mine is progressing on schedule. The first seam has been reached and the first main fan installed. Construction work for the open-cast mining areas is also running at full speed. The concrete work is scheduled for completion in 2017, as temperatures of –30 °C are nothing unusual for this region.

The process engineering for the coal washing plant has been performed by DMT, which has more than 100 years of experience in the preparation of coal, while companies including Siebtechnik GmbH, Mülheim/Ruhr, Allmineral Aufbereitungs-technik GmbH & Co. KG, Duisburg, Schenck Process Europe GmbH, Darmstadt, Andritz AG, Graz/Austria, will supply tried-and-tested key components. The Uvalnaya mine is anticipated to assume full operations in 2018. (Jacobi & Partner Industrieberatung/Si.)

Nach der erfolgreichen Premiere 2015 mit über 120 Teilnehmern aus dem Rohstoffsektor, wird das zweite Forum Bergbau 4.0 im November 2017 stattfinden.

Das Forum Bergbau 4.0 ist eine Plattform für den Austausch zwischen Industrie, Forschungseinrichtungen und Verbänden. Die Referenten stellen aktuelle und praxisbezogene Einzelaspekte dar. Die Umsetzungsmöglichkeiten der Industrie 4.0 in der Bergbaubranche sowie die damit einhergehenden Chancen und Risiken werden diskutiert.

Ausrichter des Forums Bergbau 4.0 sind das Institut für Maschinentechnik der Rohstoffindustrie der RWTH Aachen in Zusammenarbeit mit der DMT GmbH & Co. KG und dem VDMA Mining.

At this year’s MINEX Central Asia fair, held in Kazakhstan in April, the German mining consulting company DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Essen/Germany, sealed a cooperation agreement with Kazakhstan’s national geological exploration company Kazgeology. The aim of the collaboration is to develop the evaluation of mineral deposits in Kazakhstan to recognised international standards. Kazakhstan plans to evaluate its deposits in accordance with the international CRIRSCO standards in the future, in order to attract international investors to the country. The construction of a geochemical laboratory, in which rock, stream sediment, soil and drill core samples can be analysed, is currently being planned. In addition, a data processing centre is to be set up, where geochemical, geological and geophysical data will be used to generate geological 3D models. DMT and its partners will also be responsible for educating and training the employees of Kazgeology. (DMT/Si.)

A consortium of Brenk Systemplanung GmbH, DMT GmbH & Co. KG, TÜV NORD EnSys Hannover GmbH & Co. KG and Plejades GmbH – Independent Experts was set up to implement a project (INSC proj.U4.01/12BCD) within the framework of an EU support program for the Ukraine on nuclear safety. The aim is to improve the country’s handling of radioactive waste, the remediation of contaminated sites and the safe decommissioning of Ukrainian nuclear power stations. The kick-off meeting took place in Kiev on 1st to 2nd February 2016.

This project is part of the EU-funded Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation, designed to support non-EU countries to improve nuclear safety. The main objectives of the contract are to support the Ukrainian State Corporation “Radon” in establishing an emergency response system for incidents and accidents with radioactive substances, setting up integrated, automated monitoring systems for radiation and environmental protection at the Radon facilities, as well as the assessment and rehabilitation of radioactive waste deposits resulting from decontamination work outside the current restricted zone following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. DMT GmbH & Co. KG and TÜV NORD EnSys Hannover GmbH & Co. KG will jointly lead the assessment of some 50 waste deposits and, by means of a ranking, identify a possible pilot rehabilitation project, for which a complete remediation concept including safety report and tender documents must be created. Recommendations for the processing of other sites will then be drawn from the pilot. The work will be carried out in close cooperation with Ukrainian counterparts, the site managers and the relevant authorities.

DMT GmbH & Co. KG and TÜV NORD EnSys Hannover GmbH & Co. KG will jointly lead the assessment of some 50 waste deposits and, by means of a ranking, identify a possible pilot rehabilitation project, for which a complete remediation concept including safety report and tender documents must be created. Recommendations for the processing of other sites will then be drawn from the pilot. The work will be carried out in close cooperation with Ukrainian counterparts, the site managers and the relevant authorities. (DMT)

The 13th Mining Forum took place on 18th and 19th June 2015 in the Kongress Palais, Kassel. Almost 250 specialists and decision-makers from the coal mining, raw materials and energy sectors gathered together to discuss current issues in industry and research.

Presentations on a mixture of classical and pioneering subjects, given by international speakers proved, as did the exhibition, that this year‘s Mining Forum was once again a platform for exchanging information in these sectors. Organised by DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Essen, in cooperation with K+S Aktiengesellschaft, Kassel, and TSU e. V (Association for technical safety and environmental protection), Gotha, the number of attendees was evidence of widespread acceptance of the event: „We are very happy with the event this year,“ explains Prof. Dr. Günther Apel, Director of the Mining Consulting & Engineering division at DMT.

DMT has organised the Mining Forum at different locations every other year since 1991. For the first time, this year‘s event had a very international focus: „We received exceptionally positive feedback for the presentations given in English,“ says Apel. „That boosts our efforts to ensure the attraction and exclusivity of the Mining Forum in the medium term.“

Visually, the focal point of the conference was the integrated trade exhibition: In addition to exhibiting products and services from different companies, it provided an opportunity to make new contacts or talk with speakers and sponsors in a relaxed atmosphere.

Jens Peter Lux, Director of the DMT Geo Engineering & Exploration division and his team, who were responsible for organising and running the event, are already looking forward to the next Mining Forum in 2017: „Our concept for the conference was to emphasise the exchange of expertise between attendees. We are very pleased that it has established itself as a conference known for having expert speakers.“ (DMT/Si)

For 278 years DMT GmbH & Co. KG in Essen and its predecessor organizations have been providing services for the mining industry, for 25 years operating under the brand name DMT. DMT was founded in 1990 to tap into new markets outside of the German coal industry. Today DMT operates as a provider of engineering and technical consulting services for the oil and gas market, mining, infrastructure and the process and mechanical engineering market. Due to the new heavy international focus of the brand, the DMT Group generated a higher turnover abroad in 2014 than from domestic sales.

DMT’s roots lie in the early hard coal industry surrounding the Rhine and Ruhr rivers and the founding of the organization Bergamtskasse Graftschaft Mark in 1737. At first solely responsible for the finances of the supervisory mining authorities, a merger in 1864 formed the Westfälische Berggewerkschaftskasse (WBK) and greatly expanded the company’s focus to include miners’ training, research, testing, and consulting and subsequently developing it into one of Germany’s leading research and testing facilities as safety in mines became more stringent.
As a result of the German mining crisis in the 1960s and the foreseeable decline of the hard coal industry in the decades thereafter, the WBK joined forces with Bergbauforschung Essen and Versuchsgrubengesellschaft in Dortmund in 1990 under the new name DMT. Their mission was to develop and exploit new markets and regions in order to become independent from the German coal industry, and what better initial credential than the cutting-edge technology which had already made German coal mining the safest worldwide? “DMT has fulfilled its mission” explains DMT CEO Prof. Dr. Eiko Räkers. “However, DMT still is and will remain a reliable partner for the German coal industry up to the closure of the last German mines in 2018 and beyond, assisting in all issues related to hard coal mining”. Räkers adds: “Upcoming challenges in Germany include the control of rising mine water, monitoring the after-effects of mining and the rehabilitation and redevelopment of abandoned mining sites”.

With a total of 14 engineering and consulting firms based at 30 offices worldwide DMT has earned the title of global group. Its service portfolio covers exploration, engineering, consulting and geotechnics as well as testing and monitoring. The development and manufacture of diverse industrial measuring systems and test products is a further string to DMT’s bow.

Since 2007 DMT has been a member of TÜV NORD GROUP with over 10,000 employees and offices in 70 countries. DMT forms one division within TÜV NORD GROUP and is a brand in its own right for the natural resources and infrastructure sectors. DMT has established itself as an international engineering service provider and continues to grow and prosper at international level, with the brand “DMT” binding its manifold activities. (DMT GmbH/Si)

On 18 and 19 June 2015 the Kongress Palais in Kassel will play host to the 13th Mining Forum and more than 300 key decision makers, experts and specialists from the mining and raw materials industries are expected to be there. This year’s Forum will also target an international audience for the first time.

Coal, salt and mineral ore: with another list of top-class speakers already lined up, the 13th Mining Forum will once again be providing a practical insight into developments in the mining and raw materials sectors. A cleverly-chosen mix of conventional and future-oriented themes will ensure that delegates get an all-round perspective of what is going on in the mining and extractive industries. It is another opportunity for the Forum to consolidate its reputation as a top-flight reference symposium and unique platform for information exchange at expert level.

According to Jens-Peter Lux, DMT Business Unit Manager for Geo-Engineering, giving the Mining Forum an international focus for the first time will ‘set the bar even higher and boost the exclusive nature of the event.’ This year’s Forum will have as its exclusive partner Kassel-based K+S Aktiengesellschaft, one of the world’s leading providers of potash and magnesium products.

Trade exhibition provides the centrepiece

The attached trade exhibition creates the perfect centrepiece and meeting-point for speakers and visitors alike. The 400 square metres of show space provides exhibitors and sponsors with an unrestricted networking environment where they can present their business activities to potential customers in a focused way. As well as arranging a special presentation area DMT is able to offer high-profile , communicative service packages for exclusive company presentations both during and after the Forum – so brand presence is well catered for.

For an update on the programme and other information relating to the 13th Mining Forum visit www.the-miningforum.com.

Sponsors and exhibitors can telephone Carolyn Tepel directly on
+49 (0) 201/172-1814 or email to
carolyn.tepel@dmt-group.com.

Further information:
DMT GmbH & Co. KG