RAG Aktiengesellschaft

RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, started to digitise abandoned surface openings, shafts and mining galleries of the coal mining sector via the Sigfox-0G network. There are around 60,000 in North Rhine-Westphalia alone. The aim of this IoT connection is the continuous monitoring of changes in real time in order to increase protection against sinkholes and reduce the effort of on-site inspections. The Sigfox–0G-based mining shaft monitoring system, which is also used for long-term documentation, has been designed by the Research Center of Post-Mining (FZN) and the Electrical Engineering/Information Technology and Industrial Engineering research sector of the TH Georg Agricola University (THGA) in Bochum/Germany and developed to series production in cooperation with the RAG (Figure 1).

The 0G-based remote monitoring system which is operated by a solar generator comprises pull-wire switches and a microcontroller with radio transceiver, which transfers the data via Sigfox-0G networks to a monitoring cloud. The sensors monitor, e. g., the vertical movement of the filling column of an old mine shaft. The data collected via Sigfox-0G network can be shown in the cloud for monitoring purposes and in the event of an alarm can be automatically sent to a predefined message chain by SMS and e-mail.

“It is necessary to constantly monitor the over 5,200 km² hard coal easements in our area of responsibility which have around 7,200 former surface openings because sinkholes are possible at any time in a section of around 100 km². Therefore, around 6,000 inspections are carried out every year in order to be able to take preventative action in good time. To minimise these on-site inspections and for real-time monitoring of any changes, selected surface openings are now also constantly monitored via a Sigfox-0G network connection”, says Frank Wollnik from the Site and Geo Services Division of RAG.

“The Sigfox-0G solution for shaft monitoring is an element of the so-called Mineberry system, which works completely independently and is solar-operated and is suitable for almost every type of old mining objects thanks to the modular structure. In order to implement the cloud connection of our remote monitoring solution in a manner that is cost-efficient, long-lasting and maintenance-free, we connected proven sensor technology to the innovative Sigfox-0G network. And as it can be used worldwide without any roaming charges, our solution can also be used worldwide”, explains Prof. Bernd vom Berg, Head of the Laboratory for Electrical Measurement and the Laboratory for Microprocessor Technology at the THGA.

“The RAG monitoring system is an excellent example of the remote monitoring of things and states, which up to now could not always be given special attention because it was too expensive or too energy-hungry to record all this data in real time. However, with Sigfox 0G real-time monitoring of even the simplest objects and states is possible. In the case of mining, it is easy to imagine that there are many control points worldwide, which can be monitored via a Sigfox-0G network. Especially because after the fossil-fuel phase-out no more money is earned, cost-efficient and low-maintenance data communication channels like Sigfox-0G offers are particularly important”, explains Stéphane Pâris, Technical and Network Director at Sigfox Germany.

The 0G controller is installed aboveground outside the possible Ex zone for the remote monitoring system for surface opening monitoring, whereas the Ex-protected sensors are installed in the shaft. As radio signals can be transmitted via the Sigfox-0G network across many kilometres, their use is also possible in areas with a poor mobile phone connection. The controllers can also be operated for many years without changing the batteries thanks to the battery-saving radio technology. Installations in the equally radio-critical underground environment can be found in the water supply network of the city of Antwerp. However, prerequisites for extensive underground installations are repeaters, which must be positioned every 3 to 5 km. (THGA/Si.)

RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, is putting its spoil tips in new hands: The Ruhr Regional Association (Regionalverband Ruhr, RVR) is taking over 20 redeveloped mining sites with a total surface area of 1,149 ha (Figure 1). These are primarily intended to be developed into natural sites and activity areas.

“The mountains of the Ruhr metropolitan area are more than viewpoints. As landmarks, they are points of reference in the urban landscape and represent a unique feature of this region with their ever-changing backdrop. The acquisition of further spoil tips offers us, as the largest spoil tip owner in the Ruhr region, the opportunity to significantly help shape the geographical development of our region,” explains RVR Regional Director Karola Geiß-Netthöfel. RAG is keeping its promise to make post-mining sustainable for the people in the mining regions, according to Peter Schrimpf, Chairman of the Executive Board of RAG: “Not only can our areas help with creating new jobs; they can also make the district more attractive. Needless to say, this also includes our spoil tips. However, we are unable to guarantee public use permanently. The RVR is clearly better suited to this.”

“We want to incorporate the spoil tips into the green infrastructure of the Ruhr metropolitan area and open them up to the people of the Ruhr region as well as tourists. They are not just decorative structures but rather important components in the creation of a climate-friendly region,” adds RVR representative Nina Frense. Some of the newly acquired spoil tips are already accessible to the public and are being used for leisure and tourism purposes, for local recreation or for energy production – in 2021, this already applies to nine spoil tips with a surface area of 380 ha. These are the spoil tips of Lohberg North (Dinslaken), Scholver Feld (Gelsenkirchen), Rungenberg (Gelsenkirchen), Mottbruch (Gladbeck), Graf Moltke 2 (Gladbeck), Elsa-Brändström-Straße (Lünen/Dortmund), Blumenthal 8 (Oer-Erkenschwick), Humbert (Hamm) and Groppenbruch (Dortmund).

Other spoil tips are still under mining authority supervision and will gradually be made accessible to people in the Ruhr region. The stages of the closure plan will be successively completed by RAG subsidiary RAG Montan Immobilien GmbH by 2035. Over the course of the next 15 years, the spoil tips Haniel (Bottrop), Canal Belt – Haus Aden (Bergkamen), Brinkfortsheide (Marl), Lohberg North extension (Hünxe), Sundern (Hamm), Radbod (Hamm), Scholven (Gelsenkirchen), Kohlenhuck (Moers), Graf Moltke 1 (Gladbeck), Wehofen East (Dinslaken/Duisburg) and Rossenray (Kamp-Lintfort) will be gradually handed over to the RVR.

“By handing the spoil tips over to the RVR, RAG will save on maintenance costs. In this way, we will be able to contribute some of these savings to the RVR’s maintenance costs for a period of 20 years. We are therefore playing an important part in the transformation of the Ruhr region and in the future public use of spoil tips,” states Michael Kalthoff, CFO at RAG.

The operating costs for the upkeep of the landscape and trail system amount to around 1.4 M € per year for the 20 spoil tips. RAG will contribute half of the maintenance expenses. The RVR has already commissioned external planning offices to look into if and how the reclaimed mining sites can be used for tourism, leisure and recreation. The result of the utilisation concept is that nine spoil tips with a total surface area of 742 ha are suitable for developing tourist facilities because of their site qualities.

The nine spoil tips that are of special interest for tourism purposes include Kohlenhuck, Lohberg North, Haniel, Mott-bruch, Scholven, Rungenberg, Brinkforts-heide, Haus Aden 2 and Humbert. Haus Aden 2, Lohberg North, Mottbruch and Brinkfortsheide are also being considered as potential sites for the International Garden Festival (IGA Ruhr metropolitan area 2027). The other eleven spoil tips will add to the green leisure and recreation infrastructure of the Ruhr metropolitan area and enhance it from an ecological point of view. Energy production systems have already been installed at six spoil tips, while other spoil tips are being considered as potential sites for wind turbines or solar plants.

Consultants involved in the utilisation concept estimated the investment costs for qualifying the spoil tips to amount to around 50.4 M €. The RVR will attempt to secure funding for this.

The RVR is the owner of 37 spoil tips to date. Many of them have already been specifically developed so that they remain visible landmarks. Works of art have turned them into symbols of the new Ruhr region. At the same time, they have been transformed into attractive areas for tourism, recreation, leisure and sport. (RAG/Si.)

RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, tested methods for further reducing PCB in pit water at pilot facility level in Bergkamen and Ibbenbüren. The initial results from this series of tests are now available. The investigation into the PCB content takes place at the margin of detectability in the trace substance range. The analytical process being used here for the first time needs further development. At the same time, project manager Christoph Schabronath emphasises that: “The environmental quality standard for PCB in water is being adhered to at both the Haus Aden and Ibbenbüren sites.”

RAG broke new ground with this project and exceeded the legal requirements. Both the systems engineering and the analysis in the trace substance area were challenging. The task was to filter the smallest traces of PCB out of a large volume of pit water and to analyse it.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, RAG operated a pilot facility on container scale for removing PCB from pit water at the Haus Aden site, followed by Ibbenbüren (Figure 1). Further developed technologies and operating methods from drinking water preparation were used, i. e. single- and multi-layer filters made from quartz sand and anthracite coal in the pit water side stream.

Schabronath explains: “The pilot facility ran smoothly at both sites. However, the examination of the PCB content took place at the margin of detectability in the trace substance range.” Reliably determining such small traces of a substance and assessing the results is extremely challenging, and requires experience and a procedure adapted to the specific case at hand.

Due to the low concentration of PCB in the pit water, the results were unclear and it was not possible to eliminate uncertainty in the analysis. With such minimal traces, parallel investigations into the background presence of PCB in air and water are necessary.

At the end of 2019, an expert group consisting of ministries, authorities, surveyors and scientists met to assess these results. This group of experts also sees a need for further research. RAG has committed to further developing the analytical method within the framework of a doctorate in cooperation with the TH Georg Agricola University (THGA) in Bochum. (RAG/Si.)

The Haus Aden 2 shaft from RAG Aktien-gesellschaft, Essen/Germany, in Bergkamen is currently being filled. In 2023, submersible pumps are to pump mine water at depth through cladding tubes. The filling work will be completed by the end of the year. RAG has submitted the planning notification to North Rhine-Westphalia’s mining authority in order to raise and discharge mine water from the Haus Aden site into the Lippe river. RAG has provided an initial overview of the project in this planning notification, which makes the procedure transparent right from the start.

After coal mining has ended, the long-term optimisation of mine water drainage is a central element of the perpetual obligations. The mine water plan for the Ruhr region envisages that, in the future, the mine water will only be raised at six central water drainage sites. Haus Aden in Bergkamen is one of these future central water drainage sites.

No mine water is currently being raised at Haus Aden. The site is currently being converted into a well drainage system (Figure 1). For this purpose, Thyssen Schachtbau, Mülheim an der Ruhr/Germany, is building three cladding tubes in the shaft. This happens step by step. First of all, the tubes are constructed section by section and then the corresponding shaft section is filled with concrete. Work started at the end of September 2019. At present, approximately 120 m of concrete has been poured – a total of around 5,000 m³ of concrete. The remaining 660 m should be completely filled by the end of the year and the pumps should be operational by the end of 2023.

RAG expressly supports the Water City project in its planning work. As a result, a new functional building based on a harmonious and coordinated overall plan is also to be jointly turned into an architectural landmark. RAG is planning a power house at the site, which will contain a well system with lifting equipment for the pumps and pipelines that, in the future, will regulate the mine water level in the eastern Ruhr region. Preserving the shaft frame is not compatible with these plans. The power house will not fit under the existing construction. Instead, it is to be built on the dismantled shaft frame foundation in order to transfer the huge total load of the lifting equipment and the three suspended pipelines, each weighing 500 t, into the ground. This is the latest point at which the remaining steel construction’s statics can no longer be guaranteed.

In order to resume drainage after the target horizon has been reached, RAG requires a new permit relating to water laws in order to raise and discharge mine water into the Lippe river. The planning notification marks the start of the water law procedure, which also includes an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This planning notification has meanwhile been sent by the mining authority to authorities, associations, communities and other public bodies. The mining authority will soon invite these recipients to a scoping meeting. At this meeting, the content and scope of the documents submitted by RAG in the water law procedure requiring an EIA will be discussed.

The water law procedure will also deal with the issue of removing traces of PCB present in mine water. To investigate the extent to which it is possible to separate these traces from the mine water, RAG already began operating container-scale pilot facilities at the Haus Aden and Ibbenbüren sites about a year and a half ago to filter out the smallest traces of PCB from a large quantity of mine water and examine them analytically. The pilot facility ran smoothly at both sites. At the end of 2019, the results were evaluated by an expert group consisting of ministries, authorities, RAG, IWW, surveyors and scientists. Since this group of experts also sees a need for further research – especially in the field of analytics – RAG has committed to further developing the analytical method within the framework of a doctorate in cooperation with the TH Georg Agricola University (THGA) based in Bochum/Germany. (RAG/Si.)

The long-term optimisation of mine water drainage is a central issue regarding which RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, is facing up to its responsibility in the period after active coal mining has ended. The Ruhr region’s mine water plan envisages that mine water will only be raised at six central drainage sites. From 2030 onwards, the Lohberg site in Dinslaken will be the largest central water drainage system in North Rhine-Westphalia (Figure 1). Up to 33 M m³/a of water will be raised here and discharged directly into the Rhine river.

In an extensive feasibility study, RAG has demonstrated that raising mine water at the Lohberg site will, in all probability, be technically possible and that subsequent discharge into the Rhine river will be legally permissible. RAG’s mine water plan provides for various safety measures that are taken into account in the feasibility study. The feasibility study is a basic prerequisite for approving the outstanding colliery closure plans, in particular regarding the former Prosper-Haniel mine and withdrawing from the Zollverein, Amalie and Carolinenglück mine water drainage sites.

RAG’s mine water plan for the “water province” of Lohberg envisages discharging mine water directly into the Rhine river in the future. This means that the Emscher river will be completely cleared of mine water. This is a basic prerequisite for successfully completing the intergenerational Emscher conversion project. In this sense, the Lippe river will also be significantly relieved.

The plan also provides for a clear distance between the mine water and the groundwater resources used for drinking water production at all times and in the long term. This applies, in particular, to drinking water production from the Halterner Sande area, through which over 50 M m³/a of natural groundwater is currently extracted for drinking water supply. The mine water plan is thus primarily also a concept for drinking water protection. (RAG/Si.)

Residents of certain areas near the former West, Prosper-Haniel, Lippe, Auguste Victoria and Ost mines are entitled to file claims for the period from 2008 until the closure of the relevant mine.

Underground coal mining in the Ruhr region resulted in repeated tremors at the ground surface on some occasions. The frequency, temporal density and intensity varied depending on the area. In certain locations, these tremors were very noticeable. Following intensive negotiations, the RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, has now reached an agreement with the VBHG (association of owners whose property or land has been damaged by mining). The two parties agreed that compensation will be paid for reductions in property value (§ 906(2) German Civil Code) resulting from past mining-related tremors. The agreement reached with the VBHG allows for compensation payments of up to 200, 400 or 800 €. This is based on a system of flat rates, which takes into account both the results of the VBHG’s relevant test cases and the regional differences in tremor intensity.

In addition, RAG offers owners, tenants and others with right of residence, who are not represented by the VBHG but have also been affected by such tremors in the past, compensation per affected residential unit at the same conditions. The flat-rate payment is made once, irrespective of the specific number of people living in a residential unit, to compensate any and all reductions to the property value caused by mining-related tremors.

Residents are entitled to claim compensation for the period between 2008 and the point at which the relevant mine was closed. Tremors and any resulting claims prior to 2008 are statue-barred in line with the agreed interpretation of the law. Claims for compensation can be submitted until 31st December 2020 in line with § 906(2) of the German Civil Code. Claims submitted after this deadline will not be considered. There is no right to reimbursement for costs relating to consultations with a solicitor.

Information on which residential units are located in areas significantly impacted by tremors and are therefore entitled to compensation can be found online at RAG’s citizen’s information service: www.bid.rag.de. (RAG/Si.)

The RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, has restructured its property management duties. Consequently, it is continuing its ongoing restructuring process following the discontinuation of the German coal mining industry and against the backdrop of particular challenges in the post-mining era. Two changes in the management of RAG Montan Immobilien GmbH are associated with the restructuring: Uwe Penth, who up until now has headed up the Central Division of “Overall Planning and Business Management” at RAG, is becoming chair of business management and consequently the successor of Markus Masuth. Uwe Penth will also remain regional representative for RAG in the Saar region within his new function. A further appointment was made within the commercial division of RAG Montan Immobilien. Hans-Jürgen Meiers, who has been employed within the Central Division of RAG up to now, has taken over the role of commercial managing director Theodor Schlüter. Masuth and Schlüter have subsequently left the company. Ulrich Wessel remains responsible for the personnel division of RAG Montan Immobilien.

Erich Kometz, Director of the Central Division for Communication and Sustainability (CR) at RAG, went into retirement at the end of 2019.

More than a year has passed since the last two mines of the RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, ceased production. Despite the halt in production, however, work continues both above and below ground at the mines of Prosper-Haniel in Bottrop and Ibbenbüren in the Tecklenburg region. Indeed, there were a number of tasks that remained to be completed in a reliable and responsible manner.

The 21st December 2018 saw the close of the last chapter of the history of active coal mining in Germany, at the Franz Haniel mining pit. In front of 500 attendees and guests of honour – which included then President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and Armin Laschet, Minister-President of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia – President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier accepted the last piece of coal produced in Germany. The key commemorative event held in Bottrop was a historic moment for the Ruhr District, the Federal Republic of Germany and Germany as a whole, which bid a solemn farewell to the country’s coal mining industry.

Now that the phasing-out period has run its cause, however, the closure operations remain – and they are by no means an easy task. Consequently, miners have been unearthing everything that needs to be disposed of for environmental reasons from the mine workings. This has included equipment and components that would ideally continue to be used in a variety of potential applications on the global market. In addition to carrying out the necessary preparation work on the Prosper-Haniel and Ibbenbüren mines, the RAG organisation has most recently sold off elements that particularly include ventilation systems, gearing mechanisms and strip material from the underground section, as well as equipment from the workshops above ground. These were then sold on to recipients in different countries, in particular Poland and Turkey – although some of this equipment also went to buyers in Germany.

At present, shafts 9 and 10 of the Prosper-Haniel mine near the Bottrop districts of Grafenwald and Kirchhellen are being filled in. Even the Haniel mine where the German President was presented with the last piece of coal is being prepared for filling, with RAG continuing to drain water underground here today. In future, the Hünxe shaft will become part of the planned central dewatering works in Lohberg. The Prosper-Haniel mine workings have shrunk considerably, and the length of the route network has been reduced from its former 120 km to a total of just 8 km (Figure 1). The end of the year 2019 marked the end of the mine employing any workers.

In Ibbenbüren too, significant progress has been made with closure operations over the course of 2019. The mine pit workings have been reduced by almost another 16 km to a total of 30.5 km. The company has also submitted a plan for the closure of underground operations to the district government. A first shaft, known as the Theodor shaft, has already been filled to the point of stability (Figure 2).

Closure operations for the other shafts as well as from the central mine workings with discontinuation of deep water drainage are progressing according to plan. The situation is similar for overground closure work: The first few buildings have already been handed over for subsequent use by organisations such as the municipal works for the Tecklenburg region. The number of direct employees in Ibbenbüren has been reduced from 609 to 271.

With regard to the plans of the RAG for dealing with mine water, upward extraction of mine water has already been approved for some underground mine workings – namely for Walsum, as well as for partial operations in Lohberg, Auguste Victoria, Haus Aden and Ibben-büren (Westfeld). Currently, approval procedures are being prepared for other mine workings or are already ongoing, as is the case for Prosper-Haniel, Zollverein and the Ostfeld section of Ibbenbüren. The final procedures for the approval of the upward extraction of mine water are set to continue until 2024 at the latest. The final construction measures must be completed with the Lohberg site by 2030 at the latest. (RAG/Si.)

The works councils of RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, and the social partners of the company were the recipients of a special honour at the most recent award ceremony for the German Works Councils’ Prize in Bonn. On the occasion of the annual Conference of German Works Councils, they were presented with a special prize that was awarded for the first time by a professional jury for the “outstanding organisation of structural change” within the German coal mining industry (Figure 1).

Gripping, captivating and highly emotional: These words and many more sum up the unique moments that played out in the former plenary hall of the German Bundestag. Despite the event lasting many hours, the venue was fully packed, with most guests having to stand to watch the award ceremony. All eyes were on the centre of the hall.

Here, past and present members of the RAG works councils as well as leading representatives of the company stood shoulder to shoulder. These included Barbara Schlüter, current chair of the General Works Council; Peter Schrimpf, chairman of the RAG executive board; Ludwig Ladzinski and Norbert Maus, former chairs of the General Works Council; and many other delegates from the company’s participative management. In addition, the representatives were accompanied by the region’s Ruhrkohle Choir. In the course of practically unending applause, the public congratulated the efforts that had been made throughout the phasing-out process of the coal mining industry. As moderator Eva-Maria Stopp-kotte put it, it was a round of ovations for a “unique centennial project”.

“You have all done a tremendous job,” exclaimed Karin Erhard, member of the executive board for the IG BCE trade union for mining, chemicals and energy, in her laudatory speech to the recipients of the award. She remarked that the struggle for social sustainability had been a collaborative effort, and it was now her pleasure to award the special prize, which she placed on par with an Oscar.

Schlüter, who accepted the prize on behalf of all works councils, spoke of a “substantial joint accomplishment”. She expressed significant gratitude to all those who had been involved, remarking that it was an honour to accept the award and that it filled her with great pride. In her speech, she also conveyed her hope that the socially responsible structural change in the German coal mining industry would also be able to serve as an example for other companies and sectors.

Tribute was also paid by Schrimpf, who remarked: “I take my hat off to our works councils.” He emphasised that they had consistently upheld their duty of co-determination and shared responsibility, and continued to provide their support even in the face of unpleasant decisions such as site closures. As Schrimpf highlighted, the welfare of everyone had always remained the focus of the works councils’ activities.

The German Works Councils’ Prize is an initiative on the part of the renowned trade publication „Arbeitsrecht im Betrieb“ (“Employment Law in Business”). Since 2009, it has honoured the commitment and successful work of works councils that have made a long-term dedication to preserving or creating workplaces or improving working conditions in companies. A highly esteemed appointed jury, which is comprised of trade union representatives as well as scientists and practitioners, makes an annual selection from an ever growing number of submitted projects. (RAG/Si.)

Since 1st October 2019 Marcel Tiedeken has been managing the Mining Damage division in the service area Location and Geo Services of RAG Aktiengesellschaft, Essen/Germany, and succeeds Roland Pawlicki, who went to Adjustment. Christian Müller, Head of the Service Department, assists him as deputy.