MIN-Novation Estonia: September 2011

Project name:

MIN-NOVATION Mining and Mineral Processing Waste Management Innovation Network

Report from the 2^nd MIN-Novation Baltic Network meeting – Lutherstadt Eisleben, Germany

Between 21 – 23 September 2011 within the framework of Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 in Educational Institution of Employers Association of Saxony-Anhalt in Germany took place the 2^nd MIN-NOVATION Baltic Network (MBN) meeting.

From MBN meeting Germany, 21-23 September 2011

1. Welcome speeches and meeting agenda

The MIN-NOVATION project team was welcomed to by dr. Lutz Koch, vice president and CFO of the Educational Institution of Employers Association of Saxony-Anhalt (BdU). Next, the president of BdU, Mr. Hauschild, delivered a presentation on the mission and work of the BdU. Piotr Piwowarczyk followed with an overview of the meeting agenda.

2. MBN meeting

Veiko Karu of TUT, WP3 leader, introduced the goals of this round of the MBN. The aim was to take stock of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of each MIN-NOVATION region, and try to find common issues in each category which can be elaborated on and be the focus of cross-regional collaboration and synergy in WP4 and beyond. To remind everyone about regional specificities and give an update on work performed by the MIN-NOVATION regional networks, each partner gave a presentation on their region and summarized the results of the SWOT analyses performed in the regions.

The highlights of these presentations were:

a. TALLINN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY: Estonia’s minerals sector is well developed and internationally recognized; however, there aren’t many incentives for managing mining waste and regulations don’t yet reflect the recognition of the value of mining waste as a resource that can be used and re-used.

b. KAINUUN ETU: The mining sector has received a boost with the launching of the Green Mining Programme. The sector itself is in good shape (new mines are being opened, international interest), although there is little in the way of cooperation between various sectoral stakeholders and thus far sustainability and mining life-cycle analysis have not been emphasized enough.

c. UPPER SILESIAN AGENCY FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROMOTION on behalf of three project regions: Upper Silesia, Lower Silesia and Małopolska: A large amount of mining waste and processing tailings is accumulated in landfills, waiting to be utilized. However, there are considerable legal and procedural hurdles which hamper business development in the area of mining waste management. Business development agencies need to do a better job of helping entrepreneurs and future business owners deal with the applicable laws and regulations.

d. ÖREBRO REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL: a strong regional market exists for crushed rock and closed mines represent an untapped resource for raw materials and new products. Concerns about the environmental impact of post-mining mineral recovery operations (including toxic materials entering the environment), the perception of historic waste as regional heritage to be preserved and not exploited, a legal and permitting environment, and the NIMBY syndrome all contribute to slowing down the process of regional development through mining waste management.

e. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION OF EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION OF SAXONY-ANHALT: despite the fact that a number of social and demographic factors are impacting the development perspectives of the Mansfeld-Südharz district, opportunities exist for job creation in the mining waste sector. Exploitation of copper mining residues is one source of growth, as is the use of the geothermal use of mining water. One of the challenges is to get the regional R&D centres on board to help drive economic opportunity in mining waste management.

f. UNIVERSITY OF STAVANGER: a thriving petroleum sector in the Rogaland county has created waste management issues related to the disposal and re-use of waste material coming from petroleum recovery. Management of waste from zinc and titanium mining operations poses an additional challenge.

To facilitate the creation of a Baltic SWOT focused on the mining waste management sector, Veiko Karu split the participants into four groups, each group dealing with cross-regional issues which can be understood as common strengths, weaknesses, opportunities or threats.

The result was a draft Baltic SWOT. This draft document will serve as a basis for the preparation of a unified BSR report on key factors affecting growth and sustainability in the mining waste development sector.

3. SME catalogues

Veiko Karu presented an overview of the planned Baltic SME database and asked for input as to the layout, graphical user interface and expected functionality of the database. He noted the possibility of combining Excel and Access databases in this effort and showed a demo of what the SME database could involve. Piotr Piwowarczyk reminded the attendees to focus first and foremost on getting a list of SMEs from the region addressed in the project, while welcoming the idea of expanding the list to involve SMEs from the mining waste management sector active outside of the region as added value.

4. Other issues

Mattias Bäckström gave an introduction to WP4, which will focus on analysing the state of the art in mining waste management and finding paths to closer cooperation between innovation sources and SMEs. WP4 activities formally begin in October 2011.

5. Meeting adjournment

The project meeting was concluded on Thursday afternoon, and followed by tours on Thursday evening of the Wettelrode tourist mine and on Friday morning - the former smelting plant at Helbra and the Mansfeld Museum.

Wettelrode mine: