PUMPS
Pump Summit 2016: Everything comes to an end except for pumping They have come to stay: even though the miners may have long since left the mines after they closed down, the pumps continue to perform their duties.Their duty is to keep the mine shafts from running full with water, which would cause damage to both the surface and groundwater. Mining of hard coal will come to an end in 2018, and the recurring discussion about the future of lignite in Germany won’t have any effect on pumps.
P
its have been closing down for a long time in the
The mine in Bottrop will soon close its doors,
loss-making hard coal mining business. Following
even though 103 young people started their
Germany’s decision to axe subsidies in 2007, the end
apprenticeship in the mine this year, for the last
was sealed. In addition “the European Commission
time. “You can be proud to accompany the end
has approved the decommissioning plan for the
of German coal mining. With good performance
subsidised German coal mining on 7 December
you can make yourselves competitive for the
2011,” declared the German government.
later job market,” the training manager and an employee representative greeted them. In three years time, the apprentices will have to look for
The final shift in 2018
a new job.
End of 2015 the Auguste-Victoria mine in
Pumping off pit water
Marl will produce coal for the last time, end of 2018 the mines Prosper-Haniel in Bottrop and Ibbenbueren will follow. The market pressure
However, pumps won’t leave the mines. The
created by far cheaper coal from Australia is too
scenario posed by the mines that still have to
great, pushing German coal from the market.
shut down will be similar to the Zollverein Coal
It has become cheaper to import coal than to
Mine. Below the mine located in Essen, where
produce it.
the conveyer belts have been standing still since
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ENERO - FEBRERO 2016