Saying Goodbye to the Shaft: RAG Chief Steps Down as Hard Coal Mining Comes to an End
Coal mine shutdown announced by RAG-Chief in retirement: Last coal mine sealed off - Mine owner finalizes its shutdown operations.
Meet Peter Schrimpf, the man who oversaw the last chapter of German hard coal mining. At 68, he's recent retirement marks the end of an era at former Ruhrkohle AG. On June 30th, Schrimpf, a mining lifer, closed the books on coal strips once teeming with more than 170,000 workers.
He got his start in mining in 1984, serving as a young engineer at the Radbod mine in Hamm. By 2004, he had joined the management board of Deutsche Steinkohle AG and eventually became CEO of the renamed RAG in 2018.
During his tenure, Schrimpf navigated the potential minefield of job cuts. With the end of coal mining set for 2007, he faced the daunting task of reducing approximately 30,000 employees. "The greatest challenge was shaping the socially acceptable phase-out by 2018," he recalled to the German Press Agency dpa. Today, RAG employs a mere 600 people, a stark contrast to its past.
The mining veteran values mining for its "clarity, camaraderie, and solidarity." He's experienced the realities of the industry, as his father was a miner in Hamm before him.
RAG AG, wholly owned by the RAG Foundation, plays a crucial role in ensuring the groundwater levels don't rise dangerously in former mines. Mine water, often contaminated with salts and chemicals, can collect in mine cavities after the cessation of mining. To prevent it from reaching the drinking water layers, it must be continuously pumped out.
As for who'll take the helm at RAG, the answer remains to be seen. With the mining industry giving way to renewable energy, the future is uncertain, but one thing's for sure: the era of hard coal mining in Germany is officially over.
- RAG
- Hard Coal Mining
- Retirement
- Germany
- Brown Coal Mining
- Renewable Energy
- Job Cuts
- Altbach Foundation
(According to the latest information I have, the successor to Peter Schrimpf is yet to be named. RAG, formerly known for its work in brown coal mining, is involved in various aspects of coal mining and energy production in Germany. With the transition away from coal mining and the focus on renewable energy sources, the future holds uncertainty for the company. However, they continue to ensure groundwater levels are maintained and contaminated mine water is pumped out to prevent it from seeping into drinking water layers.)
- The retirement of Peter Schrimpf, who led RAG through the end of hard coal mining in Germany, marks the conclusion of a significant era in the country's mining industry.
- With RAG focusing on ensuring groundwater levels and managing contaminated mine water, the company continues to play a vital role in maintaining environmental safety after the cessation of mining.
- As the focus of RAG shifts towards renewable energy sources, the future leadership of the company remains uncertain, reflecting the evolving landscape of the German energy sector.
