Mining under pressure

Deeply shaken
The earthquake caused by mining in the Saar meets the German coal
industry in the middle of delicate decision making process on the
future of their locations: On 2 April, the Supervisory Board of RAG
adopt German Coal Ltd through its "mountain design" by 2012 - that
means in plain language, the present with excitement and many fears
anticipated mine closure plan of the nationwide two mines, and thus
thousands of miners who are directly affected.
The Saar Mine in Ensdorf, which was launched in recent years for
around 200 million euros to date, should it occur reportedly not
after: It is considered one of the most powerful of eight locations in
Germany and is made of structural reasons under the special Protection
of the Mining, Chemical and Energy (IG BCE), it opposes the closure of
the Saar until 2014 vehemently.
Social compatibility assured
". In 2014, a socially acceptable from there is impossible in Saarland
not 10,000 new jobs," said Hubertus Schmoldt IGBCE boss yet last
Friday - before the earthquake - at a press conference in brackets
(NRW). And social, that is, replacement jobs or comparable solutions,
the miners had been assured in the end of 2007 sealed the coal
financing law states. Thus, according to well-Saar Premier Peter
Müller (CDU), wiggle his constant demands for a faster exit coal is
not on schedule, Schmoldt calls again and again.
In Germany there are a total of eight coal-mines which employ
approximately 30,000 people. Mined each year some 21 million tons of
coal. Around a fifth of Germany's electricity generation based on
coal, and large parts are imported, however.
Long weeks dismantling possible stop
This has been unprecedented in this form and the immediate dismantling
quake struck the top of the RAG stop DSK but clear. "We now have to
time looking for causes and turn them off permanently. Only then can
we think about consequences," said company spokesman Udo Kath is clear
also that a large mine only for technical reasons, not even just off
and on again the next day could turn. So it's obviously a breakdown
stop for weeks - and the same time as the decision about the future.
Whether the mine by Saar might still come on the closure list - to
reject any comment from Kath: "Obviously the economy is one of the
criteria of the mountain planning," says he only.
DSK leadership and IG BCE are under pressure: The quake plays the
opponents of coal mining in Germany, new arguments in the hand. Above
all, the might of the SPD and trade unions enforced clause that the
coal phase-checked again in 2012 open-ended, now once again come under
scrutiny, members fear.
Mine closure plan required
Months before the board meeting, there had been political controversy
because NRW Thoben (CDU) urged to come forward at the meeting, a mine
closure plan already proposed mining law to stop 2018th Thus, the
revision clause for 2012 for the worthless piece of paper would have
been demoted. The top coal executives, the head of RAG-Stiftung
Wilhelm Bonse-Geuking, a trained mining engineer, had refused.
IG BCE spokesman Christoph sea closes as a precaution in view of the
quake ever get the series: ". The revision clause wobbles because in
no case are the geological events in the Saar." The Ruhr area is
hundreds of years of mining Although bagged around 12 meters, "but as
an earthquake there, something it has not yet given us."