THGA

Around 9,000 km as the crow flies separate Medellín in Colombia and Bochum in Germany. However, there is one thing they share over this great distance – both towns are home to distinguished universities with a focus on raw materials science. The Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNAL) and the Georg Agricola Technical University (THGA) have been in partnership since 2015. For the first time, a group of 15 UNAL students has now visited the THGA and not only got to know the university, but also gained diverse perspectives of the “mining region” (Figure 1).

Colombia is one of Germany’s three most important coal suppliers. While the Ruhr region is preparing for the closure of the last mines at the end of 2018, the South American country is extracting more than 85 mt/a of “mined gold”. Crude oil, nickel and gold are also mined on a large scale, with the demand for young talent in raw materials engineering being equally large. Their studies at the UNAL focus increasingly on the issues of sustainability and environmental protection, as the Colombian mining industry has much catching up to do in these areas and is the target of criticism both nationally and internationally. It was for this reason that the students from Medellín who visited Bochum with their Professor Oscar Jaime Restrepo Baena were especially interested in the world’s only Research Institute of Post-Mining which is located at the THGA, as well as the Master’s program in Geoengineering and Post-Mining. Over the course of a laboratory tour and joint workshops with THGA researchers and students, the young engineering talent from UNAL exchanged knowledge about the latest technologies and processes for handling the consequences of mining.

On two extended tours, the Colombians discovered how the Ruhr mining region was impacted by coal mining and how it has changed during the gradual phase-out. They started by visiting the Zollverein coal mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the on-site Ruhr Museum, followed by a climb up the Schurenbach slag heap where they took in its impressive panorama over the northern Ruhr region. (THGA/Si.)

Kazakhstan is one of the most important international partners for the supply of raw materials in Germany. In 2012, both countries signed a commodity agreement, with the aim of reinforcing the transfer of technology and expertise, among others. The Georg Agricola Technical University (THGA) in Bochum/Germany is involved in this process. It has been working with the Kazakh National Technical University in Almaty since 2010. THGA President, Prof. Jürgen Kretschmann, has been given honorary membership of the Kazakh National Mining Academy (NBK) in the country‘s capital, Astana. He is the first scientist from the European Union (EU), to be granted this honour.

35 bn t of raw materials are mined annually around the world. Germany produces the majority of the raw materials it needs autonomously. In 2015, their total value amounted to 13.4 bn €. Handling the consequences of mining responsibly plays a crucial role in the acceptance of mining by the population – as political decision-makers are aware. At a parliamentary breakfast on 8th March 2017, Georg Agricola Technical University (THGA), Bochum/Germany, briefed interested members of the German parliament about research and teaching in the field of sustainable raw materials recovery (Figure 1). The brief focussed on the activities of the world‘s only Research Institute of Post-Mining (FZN), which is located at THGA. Bernd Westphal, spokesman for the SPD Committee and Working Group on Economy and Energy, proposed the parliamentary breakfast together with Manfred Freitag, Managing Director of the THGA holding company, DMT-LB.

THGA President Jürgen Kretschmann explained to the members of the German parliament that Germany covers over 70 % of its raw materials consumption through domestic mining. Globally, more and more raw materials are being produced and consumed. They play an extremely significant role in high-tech applications, such as for generating and using renewable energies. “Research into sustainable raw materials recovery is all the more important – both in Germany and for Germany, because many of the raw materials we require are produced in other countries,” said Kretsch-mann. “The recovery of raw materials is not without consequences. Managing these consequences and minimising risks are now prerequisites for the continued acceptance of mining. No sustainability, no mining.” As the only technical university in Germany that focusses on raw materials science, the THGA has set the topic of post-mining firmly on its scientific agenda.

Bärbel Bergerhoff-Wodopia, Member of the Board of Executives of the RAG-Stiftung, Essen/Germany, outlined the RAG-Stiftung’s funding of the THGA‘s research: “Soon after the new Board of Executives took office, we decided that a centre for post-mining was necessary to conduct research into handling the consequences of mining. We have therefore funded an endowed chair for post-mining at the THGA, which was occupied brilliantly by Prof. Christian Melchers.” According to her, the FZN has developed superbly and made important contributions, especially in terms of research into water retention. “Water retention is a highly sensitive issue in all those areas where coal mining is coming to an end. Independent, scientific projects on this subject contribute to the necessary objectification,” said Bergerhoff-Wodopia.

The endowed chair and Scientific Head of the FZN, Prof. Christian Melchers, gave a presentation on the significance of his area of expertise and the work of the FZN to the members of German parliament: “Germany is a country with a long mining tradition.” In Saxony alone, around 75 % of the populated area was used for mining operations in the past, while there are active or former mining sites in more than 50 % of all communities in North Rhine-Westphalia. This poses major, lasting challenges for society, which are funded by the public sector in many cases – e. g. by Wismut GmbH in the former east German uranium mining industry, and the Lausitzer und Mitteldeutsche Bergbau-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH (LMBV) in the lignite mining industry. “Coal mining in the Ruhr, the Saar region and in Ibbenbüren is distinguished by the fact that mining operators pay for the traces of mining activities themselves. Nowhere else in the world is a system like that.” Melchers went on to emphasise that the issues of overground and underground water retention are central to managing the consequences of mining. “This is the exciting question: How high does the mine water need to rise in order to initiate a process which is as sustainable as possible? It makes no ecological or economical sense to permanently remove large volumes of water from great depths in mining regions. A controlled rise in the mine water level is the most sustainable solution in this respect.” He asserted that it is important to ensure that society and decision-makers are made aware of these issues and the scientifically funded processes for finding solutions to them. (THGA/Si.)

Marcus Plien, Lecturer at the Georg Agricola Technical University (THGA) in Bochum/Germany, has been named an Honorary Fellow of the Mandalay Technological University (TUM) in Myanmar. Plien has taught International Quality Management, Project Management and Risk Management at the TUM since 2013. His visiting lectureship was funded by the THGA. This honour issued by the TUM commended Plien‘s commitment to ensuring students in Myanmar kept up to date with international developments in economics and science in particular.

Crude oil, natural gas, coal and metals – raw materials giant Russia extracts millions of tons of its mineral resources every year and continues to work hard to develop new resources. To do so, it relies increasingly on efficiency, sustainability and reliable production processes – all of which are aspects that are also important to the Georg Agricola Technical University (THGA), BochumUGermany. Thanks to closer cooperation with the Belgorod State Technological University (BSTU), expertise will now hopefully be shared between Bochum and Russia: The first Russian students from Belgorod are due to arrive at the THGA in autumn and will spend the winter semester in Bochum. In addition, there will also be an exchange of teachers.
The two universities have been cooperating since 2015. In order to boost further cooperation, scientists from the THGA visited the west Russian university in the summer. During their visit, they exchanged views on current developments in conveyor and drive technology. The first joint research project on mechanical engineering in the cement industry is due to begin this coming winter semester. In addition, the THGA staff had the opportunity to explore Europe’s largest open-pit iron ore mine, Gubkin, on their visit (Figure 1). The mine is now having to face the consequences of 40 years of extraction. Post-mining experts at the THGA are helping to recultivate large areas or make use of closed mines, e. g. by means of technical energy systems. (THGA/Si.)

Accounting for 18 % of electricity production, coal is one of the most important sources of energy in Germany. The lion’s share of the coal used comes from abroad, with around 16 % from Colombia. This makes the South American country the third largest supplier after Russia and the USA. As a result of ecological crimes and the violation of human rights, however, the Colombian coal industry is currently in crisis. With this in mind, the Georg Agricola Technical University (THGA), Bochum/Germany, is working on ways to ensure greater sustainability. President of the THGA, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kretschmann, and economist Prof. Dr. Alfred Niski travelled to Colombia to meet colleagues, students and industry representatives.

Since November 2015, the THGA has been a partner university of the Universidad National de Colombia (National University of Colombia – UNAL). The delegates met at its mining faculty in Medillín. There, Kretschmann and Niski told students about the higher education system in Germany and presented opportunities for studying at the THGA. The regional conference of the Society of Mining Professors (SOMP), which also took place in Medillín (Figure 1), also had the objective of intensifying scientific exchange. The most important meeting of raw materials scientists in the world brought together almost every mining university in Latin America for the first time. Representatives from Spain and the two delegates from Bochum were the only European participants.

During the subsequent national congress of the Colombian mining industry, attendees put questions to the two THGA professors as experts in sustainability. While Kretschmann’s presentation focussed on occupational and environmental protection as well as risk management in coal production, Niski discussed opportunities for sustainable conflict management. “The Colombian coal industry is controlled by international corporations that are not concerned with the rights of the local population. Some conflicts are dealt with at gunpoint, property rights and the traditions of indigenous peoples are completely ignored. A sustainable solution can only be found by entering into fair dialogue with all involved, with special consideration for the weakest members of society,” says Niski.

“We must act as ambassadors for the sustainable extraction of raw materials in South America,” adds THGA President Kretschmann. “Human rights, environmental protection and occupational safety standards, as drawn up by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) must also apply to the Colombian coal industry. Economics Minister for North Rhine-Westphalia Garrelt Duin and Chairman of the Board of IG BCE Michael Vassiliadis have already said the same thing. Our domestic power must not be supplied at the expense of people and the environment elsewhere. For this reason, we are keen to support our colleagues at the UNAL and further intensify the exchange of knowledge.” (THGA/Si)