· GŁÓWNY INSTYTUT GÓRNICTWA (GIG)
The Central Mining Institute of Katowice (GIG), was created in 1945 as a scientific and development organisation, subordinated to the Ministry of Economy, working for the benefit of the coal mining industry and also for enterprises representing different branches. GIG employs a staff of 535 people.
Its activities comprise: mining and geoengineering, geology and hydrogeology, geophysical engineering, industrial safety, environmental engineering, surface and structures protection in mining areas, minerals, sustainable energy technologies, social and economic issues, etc. GIG has extensive experience of acting as partner and coordinator of the European projects (FP, RFCS, ECSC, Central Europe and others).
· UNIVERSIDAD DE OVIEDO (UNIOVI)
The School of Mining, Energy and Materials Engineering from Universidad de Oviedo (UNIOVI) serves as a centre of excellence for mineral resources and environmental research. Its research includes geology, prospecting, mining, treatment plants, materials, energy, environment, valuation of environmental assets and investments, risk assessment, etc.
It has 27 research laboratories and it has participated in many RFCS’s projects related with this proposal as well as other European Research Programmes such as FP, ECSC, etc. The most recent European projects in which the researchers involved in the project have participated, are: RFCS Project MERIDA – Management of environmental risks during and after mine closure, and Life Project TREMEDAL – Inland wetlands of Northern Iberian Peninsula: management and restoration of mires and wet environments.
· HUMBOLDT UNIVERSITÄT ZU BERLIN (UBER)
The Department of Geography and Laboratory for Landscape Ecology from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin will be involved in the project. The Landscape Ecology Lab is a leading and collaborating partner in EU and national funded projects such as GREENSURGE and ENABLE.
It has an expert knowledge base on: ecosystem services modelling and assessment of urban and industrial areas including mining areas; land-use modelling and scenario building using GIS; and Multi-Criteria Assessment of synergies and trade-offs in ecosystem services assessment.
· VYSOKA ŠKOLA BANSKA – TECHNICKÁ UNIVERZITA OSTRAVA (VŠB)
The VŠB -Technická univerzita Ostrava (VŠB) was founded in 1849, and has since then grown into a modern institution of higher education. VŠB is the fourth largest university in Czech Republic.
The Faculty of Mining and Geology from VŠB, which will be involved in the proposal, is a centre of excellence for mineral resources and environmental research with long tradition in the research of: post-mining landscape ecology, ecosystem development, reclamation and regeneration of post-mining landscape, soil protection, brownfields redevelopment, etc.
· HULLERAS DEL NORTE S.A. (HUNOSA)
Hulleras del Norte S.A. (HUNOSA) is a Spanish State owned coal mining company based in Asturias, owning 3 underground coal mines in operation nowadays (and tens of closed mines) and with 1,200 employees.
HUNOSA has been involved since the 80´s in policies to regenerate the industrial framework of mining districts. It is the biggest coal mining company in Spain and has participated in several RFCS projects with long standing expertise in environmental management. HUNOSA is now in the process of closing its underground coal mines, giving this situation an excellent opportunity to develop this proposal.
· TAURON WYDOBYCIE S.A. (TWD)
Tauron Wydobycie S.A. (TWD) is an important producer of power coal in the eastern part of the Silesian Coal Basin, southern Poland, controlling approximately 20% of Polish hard coal resources.
Technologies developed in Tauron Wydobycie S.A. concern excavation of hard coal, flotation enrichment, aggregate production, and mitigation of environmental impact. TWD has participated in the GEOSOFT and MANAGER international projects financed by RFCS, and now is involved in taking part in another RFCS project: CEReS.
· DIAMO, státní podnik, odštěpný závod PKÚ (PKÚ)
The PKÚ branch in Chlumec was established on 1 December 2021. From 1 January 2022, the Palivový kombinát Ústí, státní podnik passed under this branch, through a merger with DIAMO, státní podnik, and thus became part of the structure of DIAMO, státní podnik.
Currently, the PKÚ branch is intensively engaged in the remediation, reclamation, and revitalization of the landscape damaged by mining. It helps to create and revive a new form of the landscape, and manages the interest areas of the Milada and Most lakes.
The main competencies of PKÚ branch include: revitalization of the landscape affected by mining activity, removing the consequences of mining activity in the area of old and abandoned mines, liquidation of old environmental burdens after oil and natural gas extraction, monitoring the mine water regime in the area affected by coal mining in the past, management of property serving the state’s energy security, settlement of property relations and restitution claims.
