THGA

Mining mineral raw materials is the biggest “mass movement” in the world. Every year, more than 30 bn t of rock, earth, ore and energy feedstocks are extracted worldwide. They form the basis of modern life. The raw materials industry offers a wealth of career prospects as a result. Georg Agricola Technical University (THGA) in Bochum/Germany offers the perfect stepping stone towards them thanks to its new Master’s programme in “Mineral Resource and Process Engineering”, the only one of its kind in Germany. The hands-on degree focussing on extracting and processing resources starts in the 2017/18 winter semester and can be completed as a full-time programme or as a part-time degree alongside a job (Figure 1).

What is special about the programme is its combination of subjects and unusual flexibility, according to course leader Prof. Ludger Rattmann: “It is a programme with unlimited possibilities. Students can freely choose to focus on either “Mineral Resource Engineering” or “Process Engineering”. There is a pool of courses from which they can independently make up their own personal programme of studies.” In addition to classic lecture courses, it also includes many different practical elements, simulation exercises, e-learning and small independent projects. This prepares the prospective engineers for developing strategies and techniques on a large scale – “always keeping in mind that natural resources must be handled sustainably,” adds Prof. Rattmann.

The Master’s programme includes research-oriented practical training at a company or organisation in the raw materials sector – including preparation, recycling, energy efficiency, health and safety and environmental protection. Besides engineering content, the programme also teaches management skills, preparing candidates for leadership jobs. As there is huge demand both nationally and internationally, the tuition at THGA is in English and German. The “Mineral Resource Engineering” branch of study can also be completed entirely in English.

Overview of the Master’s programme in “Mineral Resource and Process Engineering”:

• starts in 2017/18 winter semester;
• length of the programme: four semesters (full-time)/six semesters (part-time);
• degree awarded: Master of Science (M.Sc.).

Entrance requirements:

• first higher education degree qualifying for entry to a profession (Bachelor’s degree or diploma) in raw material extraction, process engineering or a comparable discipline;
• adequate knowledge of English and German.

For further information and to apply, visit: www.thga.de/mrpe (THGA/Si.)

“Rare earths” are an essential part of modern technology. These metals – which, despite their name, are not actually very rare – are used in a large number of high-tech applications, including high-performance magnets that can be found e. g. in wind turbine generators or electric car engines. The market is currently dominated by Chinese producers. A German-Brazilian research project wants to offer an alternative. Under the “Rare Earth Global Industry and New Application” (REGINA) project, industrial engineering expert Prof. Alfred Niski from Georg Agricola Technical University (THGA) in Bochum/Germany is investigating marketing opportunities (Figure 1). The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is donating around 280,000 € to fund Prof. Niski’s research over the next three years.

“At the moment, China is a quasi-monopolist for rare earths and also dominates the market for products based on them, such as high-performance magnets,” says Prof. Niski. “Its market-dominating position means it can dictate the prices, which can put industrial customers in Germany, e. g., at a disadvantage. In addition, environmental and social standards are often not adhered to in Chinese production. In applications such as electromobility or regenerative energy production this is simply unacceptable.” However, REGINA is focussing on the emerging market of Brazil. With around 22 mt, it has the second-largest reserves of rare earth metals in the world (China: 55 mt). Eight partners from Germany and Brazil – four universities, three non-university research institutes and one raw materials company – want to support the development of Brazilian reserves locally in the joint research project, and to optimise the entire value chain from the processing of raw materials to their use in high-tech products.

The team of researchers under Prof. Niski at THGA will firstly investigate the market for rare earth-based high-performance magnets and compare it against a strength/weakness analysis of Brazilian production. Taking this as a basis, the Bochum-based industrial engineers will then develop strategies and concrete business models, taking into account the political aspects of raw materials. The aim is to establish Brazil as the second noteworthy supplier of rare earths in Germany. “Rare earths are a key factor in the supply of raw materials in Germany,” says Prof. Niski. “It is important that German companies do not make themselves unilaterally dependent on China, but have alternatives in the form of Brazilian suppliers. I hope that, with our work, we can contribute to greater sustainability from an ecological, economic and social perspective. The aim should be for rare earth products to be produced in a fairer, cleaner way than in the past.”

More support is currently being sought for Prof. Niski’s project team: Master’s graduates in technical business management or industrial engineering can apply to Prof. Niski for a position as a research associate. There is also the opportunity to pursue doctoral studies.

The following institutions and companies are participating in REGINA:

• Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC/Fraunhofer Project Group for Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKS;
• Darmstadt Technical University;
• Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology;
• Clausthal Technical University;
• Georg Agricola Technical University;
• CERTI Centros de Referência em Tecnologias Inovadoras (Centers of Reference in Innovative Technologies, Florianópolis, Brazil);
• Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (Santa Catarina University, Florianópolis, Brazil); and
• Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM), Araxá, Brazil.

REGINA is supported by the BMBF under the “CLIENT II – International Partnerships for Sustainable Innovations” funding scheme within the “FONA – Research for Sustainable Development” framework funding programme. (THGA/Si.)

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)