10
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World Coal
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August 2015
Coal News
Coal News
W
ith a tradition of more
than 20 years, the
19
th
Aachen International Mining
Symposium (AIMS) took place again on
27 – 28 May 2015. Under the guidance
of Prof. Per Nicolai Martens, the 2015
symposium attracted more than 300
participants coming from all continents.
The programme comprised more
than 70 papers, presented by experts,
representing internationally operating
companies and institutions from over
30 countries. Furthermore, 24 different
exhibitors used the chance to present the
latest technology and their companies to
the international audience.
Mineral resources and
mine development
This year, the AIMS series presented the
Fifth International Symposium on
“Mineral Resources and Mine
Development”. The topics discussed
included new ways and means of
securing raw materials supply. New
developments in research, as well as
practical solutions from industry,
showed how cutting‑edge technology
can lead the way to increased efficiency
in raw materials extraction and to the
access of future reserves. Furthermore,
insights were given into international
company policies and corporate
strategies.
During the presentations, it became
clear that Europe possesses a good
resource base, the extraction of which
will remain a key towards Europe’s
future supply with raw materials. The
efforts made to strengthen an
economically secure and socially
accepted supply to the EU include
increased funding of research in the
sector. Future orientation of the mining
industry is addressed by the EU‑funded
I
2
Mine and Comex projects, which
consider the technological challenges of
increasing depths, while taking high
extraction rates and constant cost
pressure into account.
Future trends of the industry show
efforts for addressing safety issues,
optimising manpower and increased
performance and efficiency. These
demands are met through continued
developments towards mechanical
extraction in hard rock environments
by means of continuous
technology. Large‑scale underground
operations with extensive mine
development efforts are another
trend that was addressed in the different
sessions.
Further topics discussed were remote,
autonomous operations, the impact on
the human environment, as well as the
improvement of energy consumption
and overall efficiency. It was shown that
one way to achieve improved efficiency
is the implementation of real‑time event
modelling and data management with
enhanced planning capabilities through
online management and leaner
organisations. A related new EU‑funded
project is Real‑Time Mining. Further
research efforts address the increasing
application of sensor and
communication technology.
Equipping established operational
machinery with these technologies to
improve autonomous operations is a
predominant trend in the industry.
Recurring subjects are health and safety
issues and the thereby affiliated
challenges in deep mining. Here, I
2
Mine
presented the latest results from its last
year of research, such as innovative
rescue chamber concepts. With respect to
the idea of sustainable development,
topics such as transparency and ethical
behaviour globally affecting the mining
industry were discussed. Moreover, the
influence of mining expertise on adjacent
fields, such as developing and
maintaining deep geological repositories
for storage of radioactive waste, was
discussed in various presentations.
Further challenges that need to be
dealt with are product stewardship and
good governance along the value chain
as pointed out before. Besides attending
the numerous informative presentations,
the participants had the chance to take
part in interesting discussions with the
speakers and each other. This was
especially the case during the traditional
evening event where old contacts could
be renewed and new ones established.
The dinner was held in the historic
Aula Carolina in the city centre of
Aachen. Representatives of industry and
academia, as well as the hosting Institute
of Mining Engineering at
Aachen University, used the chance to
thank Prof. Martens for his efforts in
establishing the Aachen International
Mining Symposia.
Handing on the baton
The number of participants and
exhibitors shows great international
interest and proves that the subjects
covered in this conference are of great
significance and high on the agenda of
mining companies, equipment suppliers,
governmental organisations, research
and academia. At the closing session,
Prof. Martens handed over the keys for
the new Institute to his successor,
Prof. Bernd Lottermoser. Under the
applause of the expert audience,
Prof. Lottermoser announced the
continuation of the AIMS series. The
next conference will be held
18 – 19 May 2016 in Aachen, Germany.
GERMANY
Aachen International Mining Symposium focuses on mine development
