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Shut down the final mine he operated.

Mine operator RAG's boss bids adieu after shutting down the final mine operation.

Management Chairman Peter Schrimpf (age 68) is stepping down from his position with RAG's board at...
Management Chairman Peter Schrimpf (age 68) is stepping down from his position with RAG's board at the end of the current month.

Saying Goodbye to the Coal Days: Bid Farewell to Peter Schrimpf, Retiring RAG CEO

Closing of Final Coal Mine Announced: RAG Corporation's Chief Steps Down - Shut down the final mine he operated.

Peter Schrimpf, a stalwart in the mining industry, is hanging up his steel-tipped boots. As the head honcho of RAG, Schrimpf stepped down on June 30, 2023, marking the end of an era for this mining titan.

Schrimpf's reign witnessed the sunset of German hard coal mining. On December 31, 2018, accompanied by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Schrimpf received Germany's last piece of hard coal at the Prosper Haniel mine in Bottrop, signifying the end of this chapter.

Assuming the helm of RAG in 2018, Schrimpf's journey is deeply rooted in the mining world. His father was a miner in Hamm, and Schrimpf himself kickstarted his career in 1984 as a young mining engineer at the Radbod mine in Hamm. During that time, some 170,000 people were employed in the German hard coal industry.

Battling the tough job cuts in the hard coal sector, especially following the phase-out date of 2007, was one of Schrimpf's most significant challenges. "It was challenging to execute the socially acceptable phase-out by 2018. We knew we needed to significantly reduce our workforce—either through early retirement plans or external mediation," Schrimpf shared with the German Press Agency (dpa). Working in the mines left a mark on Schrimpf, as he confessed, "I've experienced all that mining is said to be."

As RAG AG is fully-owned by the RAG Foundation, responsible for handling the ongoing costs associated with German hard coal mining, RAG's main focus lies on water management. Contaminated mine water accumulates in abandoned mines after hard coal mining ends, and continuous pumping is necessary to prevent it from reaching the drinking water layers.

With Schrimpf's successor yet to be announced, we wait to see who will take over this legendary coal legacy and lead RAG Aktiengesellschaft into its post-mining era. Keep your eyes locked on the official RAG website for any updates on this exciting development.

  • RAG
  • Change of Leadership
  • Retirement
  • CEO
  • Germany
  • Hard Coal Mining
  • Frank-Walter Steinmeier
  • Bottrop
  • Hamm

Extra Insights:

  • Water Management Responsibilities:
  • Effective treatment and pumping of mine water to maintain safe groundwater levels.
  • Permanent responsibility due to the continuous risk of water infiltration into abandoned mines.
  • Water purification to protect drinking water and surface water quality.
  • Post-Mining RAG’s Primary Focuses:
  • Restoration and development of former mining sites (decontamination and sustainable redevelopment).
  • Management of subsidies, pensions, and other ongoing obligations related to former miners and preservation of industrial heritage.
  • Note: Since my cutoff in December 2023, there have been no official announcements regarding CEO succession at RAG Aktiengesellschaft. For the most up-to-date information, please consult the company's official website or recent news releases.
  • RAG, under the leadership of Schrimpf, has been focusing on water management due to the risks associated with contaminated mine water in abandoned mines, necessitating continuous pumping to prevent it from reaching drinking water layers.
  • Schrimpf took over the helm of RAG in 2018, a company responsible for handling the ongoing costs associated with German hard coal mining, and his journey is deeply rooted in the mining industry, with his father being a miner in Hamm and him starting his career as a mining engineer in the same town.
  • As the CEO of RAG, Schrimpf oversaw the phase-out of German hard coal mining, which culminated on December 31, 2018, with the receipt of Germany's last piece of hard coal at the Prosper Haniel mine in Bottrop.
  • Battling the tough job cuts in the hard coal sector, especially following the phase-out date of 2007, was one of Schrimpf's most significant challenges, as he had to reduce the workforce substantially through early retirement plans or external mediation.

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