Energieagentur.NRW

EnergieAgentur.NRW, Düsseldorf/Germany, stopped working towards the end of 2021. Over many years, the Energie-Agentur energy agency has presented a variety of technical, process engineering, economic and environmental subjects around mining in joint discussions and gained increased interest, not least from operating companies and customers outside Germany. In doing so, the agency earned some credit with service providers as well as mechanical engineers and plant construction operators, especially given the backdrop of our country’s dependency on exports of minerals and raw materials. In future, EnergieAgentur will remain part of EE Energy Engineers GmbH and continue to be entrusted with their task to coordinate the mining network and mining and raw material economics. It will also oversee the project “Supporting the energy and climate protection goals of North Rhine-Westphalia with regards to sustainable raw material extraction” as contracted by In4Climate GmbH, a federal project of North Rhine-Westphalia. (Si.)

After 400 participants – entrepreneurs from Germany and Africa – had achieved record attendance at the 6th German-African Economic Forum NRW on 18th February 2020 in Dortmund/Germany, which featured many interconnected issues, a specifically designed workshop was held on 4th March 2020 at EnergyAgency.NRW’s mining industry network, Düsseldorf, in Gelsenkirchen Science Park (Figure 1). This proved to be an excellent networking platform to present successful business solutions for Africa from a German perspective using practical examples and to make new contacts. Business in Africa is currently benefiting from both the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and new German programmes such as Africa.CONNECT. In Dortmund, Michael Blank, Delegate of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Ghana (AHK Ghana), asked whether oil, gas, gold and bauxite will continue to determine Africa’s position in world trade: “Or is information – data – the raw material of the future? In any case, digitalisation has brought Africa more than 50 years of development aid.” The raw materials sector and digitalisation were both important topics for the more than 30 participants at the -EnergyAgency.-NRW “Africa 2020” workshop, which, looking back, was a resounding success.

The speakers conveyed exclusive and current market data and practical expertise for service providers and suppliers in the field of raw materials for entrepreneurs, scientific and expert contacts.

Africa remains a market of the future. It is a promising market, since time is needed. In the raw materials sector, it can take two, three or even five years from establishing contact to project commissioning. A lot of patience is required, which sometimes only large companies can afford. Against this background, it is all the more important to provide the best possible support to small and medium-sized enterprises in their African business. These statements were echoed by representatives of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and NRW International who took part in the discussion in Düsseldorf.

The current prospects of the African growth market were realistically presented by experts using examples from the Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria and West Africa regions. This is another area where the above-average growth of the African market deserves entrepreneurial attention from German companies. The still unresolved German caution is now being mitigated by increased foreign trade promotion towards Africa. The Centre of Excellence for Mining and Raw Materials of the Southern African-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce was extended by the German BMWi in February 2020 for three years with subsequent partial financing and fully financed country expansion. This means that the Centre of Excellence now covers a total of twelve African countries in the Southern African region.

The interests of Germany and the mining industry were last represented locally at the beginning of February 2020 by the German Federation of International Mining and Mineral Resources (FAB), Berlin, in the form of a federally funded exhibition stand and a German day at the Mining Indaba exhibition.

Throughout Africa, approximately 2 bn US$ were spent on exploration in 2019, with a focus on gold and copper. In 2019, total EU investment was ahead of China, although China remains the dominant force. The EU is also not synonymous with Germany. On the basis of former colonial ties, France, the UK and Portugal have advantages. In addition to China, major investors include Canada, India and Brazil. Germany continues investing only to a small extent. On the other hand, China’s mining investments amounted to 60 bn US$ between 2005 and 2017. As bridging technology, coal is or can be an interesting energy source with opportunities for supplies, e.g., in Nigeria where, as in very many African countries, energy and infrastructures are urgently needed. The World Bank has made a loan of 150 M US$ available for this sector.

There are opportunities for companies from North Rhine-Westphalia in:

• cavity filling;
• processing technology in the hard rock field;
• dump preparation and post-mining;
• decontaminating residual holes after in-situ leaching;
• occupational health and safety projects;
• rock cutting at depths of – 4,000m;
• digital mining with focus on open source software, such as OPC UA;
• transmission and compression/processing/distribution of large amounts of data (wired or wireless from very great depths, real time data transmission underground);
• environmental protection measures;
• education and training;
• training local forces; and
• service staff directly on site for short reaction times.

Africa needs sustainable economic growth, which is also an important element in combating the reasons for leaving the continent. Africa’s young population offers a great opportunity, but is also a challenge and an obligation. After all, combating the sometimes shockingly high youth unemployment rate (approximately 30 %) is one of the most important challenges on the African continent.

The transfer of knowledge, investment in Africa’s economic development and assistance in establishing training opportunities are key elements of foreign trade promotion and development policy. For the North Rhine-Westphalian regional government, these two areas are not mutually exclusive, but go hand in hand. The One World Strategy adopted by the regional government explicitly aims at strengthening the links between both areas. This is supported by an updated raw materials strategy from the German federal government, which has now – at least as a basis for discussion – reached the federal states as well.

Scientific cooperation also offers opportunities for the sectors on both sides to show further points of reference that are good for business. (EA.NRW/Si.)

At the end of November 2019, the 12th German-Russian Raw Materials Conference took place at the Saint Petersburg Mining University. The key topics of the conference included the new global and ecological tasks of digitalisation, the way to a circular economy through the use of waste as a raw material, and collaboration in climate and sustainability research. Peter von Hartlieb (Figure 1), coordinator of the Smart Mining global mining industry network of North Rhine-Westphalia’s energy agency ­EnergieAgentur.NRW, Düsseldorf/Germany, moderated a workshop on the topic of digitalisation as part of the conference. He responded to three questions from the editorial team of Mining Report Glückauf on the subject of collaboration between Germany and Russia.

Mining Report Glückauf: Where are there similarities and where are there differences between the raw materials industry in Germany and in Russia, and what is of particular concern to you at this conference?
Peter von Hartlieb: The exports from North Rhine-Westphalia to Russia have increased again in 2019, and admittedly to over 7 % of the total exports of around 4.9 bn € from the German mining supply sector, which the network naturally cooperates with. Coal is and always has been considered a basic source of heat and energy generation in Russia. The Siberian Coal Energy Company (SUEK), the largest coal mining company in the country, speaks of a stable market situation both in Russia and the other nine CIS countries, as well as a clearly growing market. The signs point to expansion and further export-related success for our long-term processes, from surveying through to recultivation.
My concern with regard to the practically oriented working groups of the raw materials conference is to create a sustainable overarching network in which an ongoing exchange of ideas and experiences relating to the raw materials industry in Russia can take place. The topics and orientation of my working group “Digitalisation in the raw materials industry” guarantee a high level of practical relevance. Background experience of projects or from the day-to-day business of the working group members is supplemented by the expertise of representatives from the scientific field, industry associations or selected service providers.

MRG: A key topic of the conference, from which a workshop moderated by yourself has emerged, is digitalisation. What expertise does North Rhine-Westphalia and Russia possess in this regard and which synergies can be established or expanded on?
Von Hartlieb: Many companies from the mining supply sector in North Rhine-Westphalia and a number of medium-sized service providers have been dealing with topics relating to automation for around 40 years now. For several years, projects have been launched under the umbrella term of “digitalisation”, yet in many cases these have hardly been connected to one another up until now. It is precisely this area that corporate managers within the sector and ourselves – along with many Russian companies, as well – are addressing in order to press ahead with digital transformation with a uniform vision and strategy. This transformation can only occur if, firstly, all employees are involved and, secondly, the projects are moderated by an independent, neutral body to begin with. The scientific knowledge of both parties plays an important role here, since it ensures that access to projects remains manufacturer-independent and affordable.

MRG: What is the long-term goal for collaboration with Russia and where do you see potential?
Von Hartlieb: The entry into the market and establishment of a sales network in Russia require thorough preparation and targeted planning, as otherwise difficulties and problems are almost a matter of course – even if these are circumstances that we have essentially been familiar with for decades. Due to its industrial, energy and export policies, Russia offers a vast and steadily growing sales market for technologies that we no longer require at home, since the underground hard coal mining market there was phased out towards the end of 2018. Its potential for growth in Russia has not yet been exhausted by a long way, however – on the contrary, it continues to develop sustainably. Consequently, as specialists in efficiency, cost effectiveness and safety, we intend to work on future projects in the raw materials segment there on the basis of mutual respect and equal footing.
(EnergieAgentur.NRW/Si.)

A total of 70 leading industry representatives – managing directors, sales directors, association representatives and representatives of IGBCE and the NRW mining authority – met on 26th September 2019 at the former Zeche Zollern (colliery) in Dortmund/Germany for the fifth annual conference of the Mining Industry Network of the EnergieAgentur.NRW, Düsseldorf/Germany (Figure 1).

It was also an opportunity to examine current target markets as 97 % of services, machines and systems are exported. The raw materials industry around the world faces diverse and demanding challenges. Sustainable market and sales visions are sought and visionaries to promote them. What is important and what will become important? The network coordinated and moderated the event on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The contributions showed the whole spectrum of the industry activities and market developments through to the high level of innovation of the supplier industry in North Rhine-Westphalia in the raw materials segment. After the end of coal mining the know-how and expertise established here and appreciated worldwide continue to be promoted on international markets such as Chile, China, Russia, Turkey or Africa. Apart from the classic use, it is necessary to show applications in the hard rock mining sector, ore mines, salt and rare earth fields, as well as in tunnel construction, around the world for the companies. Complex technical solutions and the high degree of specialisation, specially in the areas of digitisation, occupational safety, accident prevention and environment protection, offer opportunities, which are seized and supported also with the help of the EnergieAgentur.NRW. Harmonisation, coordination and moderation are effected in many cases in close collaboration with VDMA Mining, the Technical University Georg Agricola (THGA), institutes of the RWTH Aachen University, the DMT GmbH & Co. KG or other partners from Germany or abroad. Many regions in the world rich in raw materials benefit from this sustainable approach of the NRW experts and their knowledge. Because one thing is clear: The know-how and expertise of the specialist companies in North Rhine-Westphalia are at a superior international level and without mining there is no energy revolution or electric mobility. (EnergieAgentur.NRW/Si.)

After intensive topical research and collaborative revision, the mining industry network of EnergieAgentur.NRW (EA), Düsseldorf/Germany, and the German Mineral Resources Agency (DERA), Berlin/Germany,  part of the Federal Institute for Geoscien-ces and Raw Materials (BGR), published a joint study on the raw materials situation and current developments in the raw material sectors of 31 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (Figure 1).

Germany is highly dependent not just on the export of goods but also on raw material imports. Over 50 countries worldwide are designated mining countries, where mining products make up more than 6 % of overall exports and are therefore of major national importance. Over 90 % of mining countries are developing countries, and most of these are located in Africa. According to UN data, 29 of the countries with the highest birth rates are also located in the Sub-Saharan region alone.

Demand for mineral resources and energy raw materials is set to double globally by 2050 if the trend of the previous three years continues. As the study demonstrates, the African continent offers enormous potential for energy raw materials, metals and industrial minerals. Against this background, mining in Africa will play a key role in the necessary development and ascent of the African economy.

This study, which can be downloaded for free from the homepages of both organisations, is intended to provide basic information with its preliminary remarks and a snapshot of the situation based on individual country data in order to provide an up-to-date, compact overview. (EA/Si.)

Vom 23. – 25. November 2016 wird Düsseldorf Gastgeber der Deutsch-Russischen Rohstoff-Konferenz sein. Die bereits zum neunten Mal stattfindende Konferenz, zu der zahlreiche hochrangige Gäste aus Russland und Deutschland erwartet werden, bietet eine wichtige Plattform, um Fachthemen der Energie- und Rohstoffwirtschaft zu diskutieren und bilaterale Kooperationsprojekte anzustoßen.

In Vorbereitung der Deutsch-Russischen Rohstoffkonferenz laden das Deutsch-Russischen Rohstoff-Forum, das Russland Kompetenzzentrum der IHK Düsseldorf sowie die EnergieAgentur.NRW am Montag, 20.06.2016 von 14.00 -18.00 Uhr  ein zu einem Roundtable.

Gebühr: Die Teilnahmegebühr beläuft sich pro Person auf auf 77, 35 € oder 59,50 € für IHK-Mitglieder.

Coal production in China, the world‘s largest producer and consumer of fossil fuels, fell by approximately 2.5 % in 2014 compared with the previous year; the first year to experience an actual decline in production since 2000. The information comes from Jiang Zhimin, Vice Director of the China National Coal Association (CNCA) and was disclosed to EnergieAgentur.NRW at a meeting following the most recent delegation visit to China from 18th to 26th April 2015 in Beijing. China‘s total production volume for 2014 has not yet been published. The CNCA data shows, however, that in the first 11 months of the past year China‘s coal production had reached 3.52 billion tonnes; 2.1 % lower than in the same period of the previous year.

The decline in production can primarily be traced back to a combination of sluggish domestic demand and large quantities of coal imports. This situation, the economic growth worldwide and excess capacities in mainland China led to a slump in coal prices. In 2014, China‘s large mining corporations, such as Shenhua, China Coal, Datong Coal, Shandong Energy-Xinwen, etc., had promised the central government to cut back production in order to avoid a surplus, and to stop stockpiling coal. Inner Mongolia – one of the leading coal provinces – recorded a decline in 2014 production of 11.9 % to 908.08 million tonnes, whereas Shanxi and Shaanxi, the other two large provinces, disclosed a 1.5 % and 3.6 % increase, to 976.7 million and 510.9 million tonnes respectively. Shenhua Energy, the country‘s largest coal producer, registered a decline in its coal production by 3.6 % to 306.6 million tonnes, whilst China‘s second-largest producer, China Coal Energy, produced 114.4 million tonnes, equivalent to a decline of 3.6 %. In spite of somewhat more positive changes in the final quarter of 2014 – not least as a result of government measures to support the cut back – the coal mining industry as a whole still faces some serious challenges.

At the end of 2014, production companies had stockpiled 87 million tonnes, a surplus of 2.6 % compared with the start of the year. The stockpiles at the largest power stations stood at 94.55 million tonnes, a surplus of 17.1 % compared with the start of the year. Estimates collectively place total stockpile quantities at approximately 250 million tonnes.

In the first 11 months of 2014, the large coal companies recorded profits of around 110.5 billion yuan (approximately € 18 billion), 44.4 % lower than in the same period of 2013. More than 70 % of all coal companies suffered losses. Some corporations lowered wages as a result, while others were unable to pay their employees on time.
It is now expected that the situation will begin to improve from the end of 2015. At the same time, it has been suggested that the surplus must be reduced again and that companies still have a difficult time ahead.

Since the Chinese economy is entering a phase of 6 to 7 % gradual growth per year, coal mining needs to be adapted accordingly. In addition to this, stricter environmental regu­lations are also leading – at least temporarily – to a critical phase of transformation and structural adaptation. China‘s coal production capacity now lies at over 4 billion tonnes per year and more than 1 billion tonnes of new capacity are currently under development.

In 2015, the central government, along with provincial governments and reform commissions will work towards helping the industry out of its present difficulties. Strict controls on illegal and dangerous production and the prevention of surplus production are on the agenda. The sale and importation of substandard coal with a high sulphur content will be reduced or prohibited. More specifically, an additional 100 mines have been blacklisted for producing a total capacity of 200 to 250 million tonnes a year by illegal means and earmarked for closure.
(EnergieAgentur NRW/Si)

Over 100 decision makers and experts from the mining sector came together in Essen on 24 March 2015 for the first meeting held by the new Mining Industry Network. The purpose of this event, “The future of the NRW mining industry”, is aimed at jointly developing economic perspectives following the end of coal mining in North Rhine-Westphalia. The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Industry of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia is supporting this network which will be coordinated by the EnergieAgentur.NRW.

“The mining industry in North Rhine-Westphalia is the technology world leader. Its first-class know-how is also in demand internationally with the decline of domestic coal mining”, said Garrelt Duin, the Minister for Economic Affairs, during his keynote speech at the meeting. “The Mining Industry Network will support companies in developing new business areas and international markets, for example in the fields of mining technology, mine gas utilisation or the rehabilitation of mining damage and contaminated former mining sites. The aim now is to bundle the in-depth experience of these NRW companies in order to enhance their national and international business opportunities.”

Dr.-Ing. Eckehard Büscher of the EnergieAgentur.NRW, head of the Mining Industry Network and another newly-formed network, the Energy Industry Network, explained the principle: “Additional sales markets and workplaces in North Rhine-Westphalia will be secured on the basis of this close cooperation with partners such as NRW.International, VDMA Mining and other actors within the supplier industry.

This Mining Industry Network reflects the tradition of support provided by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in NRW for the mining supplier industry over the past 15 years. It is intended to mitigate the consequences of capacity adjustments – in particular in domestic coal mining – for the overall industry.”

Plans are being drawn up to forge partnerships with countries rich in raw materials, such as Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Peru and Chile, thus providing opportunities for German suppliers, including the service industry, in the raw materials sector.
(EnergieAgentur.NRW)

In January 2015 after proper preparation, the network mining has been established. In time for the conditional breakaway of the domestic coal market as customers in 2018 and taking into account the increasingly difficult prospects for opencast lignite mines, in agreement with the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of Economic Affairs, appropriate measures have to be taken. By co-working with partners such as NRW International, VDMA Mining and other stakeholders the supply industry is assisted in the development of foreign markets and alternative business fields. An outlook for revenue stabilization of predominantly SMEs companies is pointed out in order to support the preservation of jobs in NRW. The Network Mining and Energy will act as a neutral moderator and will be in direct professional exchange with the companies and support their business models and feasibilities. The companies shall be accompanied on the markets successfully and practically.

Since January 1st 2015, Dr.-Ing. Eckehard Büscher heads the Network Mining and Energy under the supervision of Energie-Agentur.NRW in Dusseldorf. As director of the International Coordinating Office of the German geothermal industry at GZB (International Geothermal Centre, Bochum), he has experience with the development of international networks. Previously, he worked as Managing Director (public utilities, strategic consulting firm) and with an international utility company. Dr. Büscher is a Mediator (CCI,) lectures as an assistant professor at the University of Bochum and is accredited as an expert of the energy sector in the EU-Commission.

The mining sector within the network mining is managed, also since January 1st, by Peter von Hartlieb. Since the early 1970ies he is conducting business in global mining for German companies and organizations and represents extensive experience with North- and South America, China, Russia and other target markets. As part of the obligations the NRW working group mine gas, which exists since many years under the technical direction of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Axel Preusse, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen, is integrated into this area.

“SMART MINING: Think big, aim high, work smart”. This is the idea of the new network MINING of the EnergieAgentur.NRW and the title of the kick-off event. The event will be held on March 24th at CASINO Zoll-verein World Heritage Zollverein in Essen in the presence of NRW Minister of Economics Garrelt Duin.

Attendees will include companies from the open pit and underground mining, representatives of the Ministries in Düsseldorf and Berlin, the mining authority, RAG Aktiengesellschaft, associations, unions and banks. Short presentations provide ideas and insights on current and future orientations of the industry. A special highlight of the afternoon promises to be the panel discussion where the export opportunities in the industry are discussed.

The free registration is possible at
www.energieagentur.nrw.de/bergbau. Please contact Ms. Inken Kienzle, public relations and communication in the network Mines, for any further questions under kienzle@energieagentur.nrw.de.