core sector communique

Excellent prospects for mining engineers in the global competition

 

In conversation with Professor Carsten Drebenstedt from the Institute of Mining and Engineering at the Technische Universität (TU) Bergakademie Freiberg (Germany).

 

Of the 4,700 students at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, 11 percent come from 70 countries outside Germany. But most of them are German and, as we know, export-oriented Geramn manufacturers have been particularly hit by the current economic downturn. So, we have to ask just what chances, in your view, do your students have in tomorrow´s jobs market?

Drebenstedt: Mining is still a very useful subject to study. There are many reasons for this: for one, Germany still has a significant mining industry, and it covers its own needs in terms of raw materials for building, for example, and in potassium fertiliser, special clays and sands, as well as cement raw materials. An important proportion of the energy we need is generated from locally sourced raw materials, and key industrial minerals are also extracted. New ore-mining projects are also being planned again in Germany.

Thanks to these diverse mining activities, a significant mining machinery industry has grown up in Germany, and we have important mining suppliers, consultants and specialists in shaft construction and mine rehabilitation. On the administration and research sides, too, new young talent is urgently required.

Also, around the world mining is a growing market which presents graduates with interesting opportunities. And now, more and more with German firms. And those who look around for other fields after obtaining their mining qualifications are still well equipped for work in other sectors, too.

 

How do you adapt your courses to meet these diverse demands?

Drebenstedt: We keep a close eye on the jobs market into which our graduates will go, and are in contact with the future employers, to ensure the education we give the students is adjusted correctly to the day-to-day world of work which they will later encounter. International competence is an important aspect. We have partner universities abroad, prepare joint course content and travel to guest lectures. Also many of our students like to take double degrees.

 

Are the mining engineers educated at your institute also ambassadors for German mining technology? Is it easier for the German machinery manufacturers to generate sales with these contact persons abroad?

Drebenstedt: Of course. This applies not only to our German graduates, but also to the foreign students who do their degrees with us. Some of them work for German companies in the international divisions, others back in their home countries; some have managerial positions, but all of them value the quality of the education they receive in Germany.

 

Is international research once again a door-opener for the industry which also supports in part the research initiatives?

Drebenstedt: We are engaged in a number of research and development projects with foreign universities and companies. In this way the participating partners are introduced to German technologies and solutions, and later these initiatives may evolve into business projects. We always make a big effort to support German business with the means at our disposal. On the other hand the foreign projects provide us with the background for practical training abroad.

 

What international research projects are you working on at present?

Drebenstedt: If we look at Asia first, we are involved in Thailand, for example, with packing, in China with coal fires, and in Vietnam with dust occurring during cutting out and with selection criteria for hydraulic excavators used in coal mining. Also, in Mongolia, we are looking at the recultivation of gold deposits and selecting draglines for brown coal mining.

But in Europe, too, we have a number of ongoing research projects, for example, on the use of rotary cutters in extracting limestone in Belgium and expert systems for mine rehabilitation in Russia. In Romania the focus is on re-use of abandoned coal-mining areas, in Uzbekistan on restructuring a large company, the utilisation of phosphate processing abatement and the inclusion of low-grade ore and old gold-processing waste as a raw material basis.

And finally, there´s our involvement in North Africa: In Egypt the main themes are mining planning with the emphasis on mineral processing and on environmental auditing. All of these exciting themes have only become possible because we have students from these countries at our university.

 

The growth market of India is currently attracting a lot of attention from manufacturers of building and mining machinery. Are you involved in any research projects there?

Drebenstedt: We have a partnership with the leading mining research institute in Dhanbad, which is part of the research community there. The focus is on improving blasting technology, in particular with regard to environmental impact. Unfortunately around the world the way blasting is carried out is often purely from a production point of view. The environmental impact of these activities, for example flying rocks, dust, vibrations, gas emissions and contamination of soil and water, can be enormous. Much can also be improved in terms of cost-effectiveness. Other themes are also being planned in this cooperation, such as recultivation and water economy.

 

The world´s leading trade fair bauma, which also focuses on mining, has chosen India as its partner country for 2010. Will the TU Bergakademie Freiberg be represented at bauma?

Drebenstedt: We will be taking part again as part of the joint stand with other universities. bauma is a unique opportunity to bring together science and industry, and to gain a foothold in international markets.

 

One of the product focuses at bauma 2010 will be mining and tunnel construction. In Hall C2 and on the open-air site, exhibitors will be presenting their innovations in above-ground and underground mining, and in tunnel technology. In the bauma Forum, which is being held in parallel at the fair, high-ranking international speakers from science and industry will be sharing their expertise and engaging in discussion with trade visitors on the subject of mining and tunnel construction.