Editorial
Copper, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, but also coking coal are on the EU’s 34-item list of critical raw materials, which are particularly necessary for the numerous transformations of the European and, not least, the economy here in this country. From the point of view of European producers, it is particularly worrying that many of the critical raw materials are produced in far-flung regions of the world such as South America, Australia and China. China in particular plays a dominant role, because the world economy is completely dependent on this country for antimony, bismuth, magnesium, phosphorus, scandium, titanium and rare earths alone, and to a considerable extent for many other raw materials. China is steadily expanding its dominant position in a number of other raw materials through its strong position in African countries. In order to improve the situation, the EU adopted the Critical Raw Materials Act in May of this year, which, among other things, is intended to strengthen the entire value chain – mining, refining, processing, recycling. Against this background, the present issue of Mining Report Glückauf is dedicated to the topic “Raw Materials for the Energy Transition”.
Due to the simultaneous and overlapping transformation processes in Germany, the supply of metal raw materials, which are indispensable for new technologies, must be ensured. To this end, the German government has entered into various raw materials partnerships over the last ten years, e. g. with Mongolia. Other possible projects include a rare earth deposit in Mauritania, the extraction of copper in the deep sea, and the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) recommendations for the climate-friendly use of coal. In addition, the THGA in Bochum/Germany is looking at how critical raw materials can be extracted from the mine water of the disused coal mining industry, while the TU Clausthal, Clausthal/Germany, is investigating not only existing environmental risks but also opportunities for extracting critical raw materials from tailings. The IMMERSE project brings together renowned universities in Europe and Australia to address deficits in the training of raw materials experts, focusing on sustainable mining practices in the area of critical raw materials.
In the “ISSA Mining” section, we present a modern software solution that provides information about the current whereabouts of miners underground.
Finally, the “Post-Mining” section deals with solution concepts for mining and geomechanical challenges for the long-term safe closure of the Saale shaft of the Teutschenthal mine, the securing of the double shaft facility at the former Vondern hard coal mine and science communication in the field of mining.
With my best regards
Dipl.-Ing. Andreas-Peter Sitte
Chief Editor Mining Report Glückauf, Essen