“Forward-looking, instructive and emotional” - this is how the participants describe the German-Ukrainian exchange that has now taken place at the Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences (THGA): A delegation from Ukraine spent a week at the university to learn about dealing with the consequences of mining - including representatives from the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy, municipalities in eastern and western Ukraine and experts from several universities of the country.
The focus was on the transfer of post-mining knowledge, which the Research Center of Post-Mining (FZN), with the support of the RAG-Stiftung “There are many points of contact, particularly in the areas of recultivation, risk management and the preservation of industrial heritage,” says Natalia Lubenska from the FZN, who initiated and organized the exchange with the specialist colleagues together with Prof. Dr. Peter Goerke-Mallet. “Content from the THGA's Master's degree course in Geoengineering and Post-Mining” could also be incorporated into the curriculum at Ukrainian universities in the future, adapted to local requirements. How do you deal with the legacy? Now and in the future - hopefully soon - in peacetime?” says Goerke-Mallet. He is firmly convinced that the talks with his Ukrainian colleagues have created the basis for substantial cooperation in all aspects of the mining life cycle. This explicitly includes the development of projects for the provision of georesources.
University President Prof. Susanne Lengyel (far left) and Natalia Lubenska from the FZN welcome the Ukrainian guests to the THGA.
In addition to the German Mining Museum the group led by Prof. Viktor Yermakov also visited the engineering company CDM Smith, the RAG AG, the city administration of Gelsenkirchen, the DMT GmbH, the recultivation research center of RWE Power AG, the pump manufacturer Tsurumi Pump and the Emschergenossenschaft/Lippeverband (EGLV). The presentation by Prof. Paetzel, Chairman of the EGLV, on urban water management in a large urban area and the management of polder areas attracted much interest.
The German-Ukrainian exchange was made possible with the support of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) and the GIZ.
The delegation from Ukraine spent a week at the THGA in Bochum. The focus: post-mining, risk management, structural change. (©THGA)
