2
change can not only reduce the environmental impact, but
also contribute to economic resilience and increased social
acceptance of mining.
BLUE MINING
Mining has a significant impact on the natural and social
environment. The mining industry is more aware of these
impacts than other industries, especially with regard to its
historical heritage. Responsible mining is characterized by
this awareness and the management of impacts. In particu-
lar, mining companies are committed to supplying society
with raw materials and to supporting economic develop-
ment through the extraction of raw materials.
The generally recognized definition of sustainable
development according to the Brundtland Commission
reflects the combination of this awareness and the handling
of developments in the present and future. Sustainable
development is “development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future gen-
erations to meet their own needs 5. The promotion of sus-
tainable development must focus on increasing the positive
impacts for future generations while considering all areas of
sustainable mining practice. These include the economic,
environmental and social spheres, as well as the mining-
specific aspects of safety and resource efficiency 6.
The creation of cavities for underground mines, which
are used to access the deposit and develop mining meth-
ods, is a costly investment. Therefore, they must be used
as effectively as possible. Shafts and drifts are not only the
necessary mining preparation for extraction, but also a con-
nection from the surface to the underground that could
be used beyond the life of the mine if some measures are
planned and taken in advance. During and after mining,
the mine infrastructure can be used for energy storage and
energy transformation. In this way, the resource efficiency
of a mine can be improved by considering access to under-
ground resources.
This proposal for sustainable mining practice is part
of the Blue Mining approach introduced in 2013. Blue
Mining (BM) is a holistic approach that defines responsible
mining by going beyond resource extraction and utilizing
mine assets during and after production, based on a plan-
ning strategy that should start at the pre-feasibility studies
stage 7. The early planning of a machine used to be dem-
onstrated with a “blueprint,” reminiscent of the time when
there were no photocopiers and scanners. Blueprint can be
literally translated as “blueprint.” Today, this term is used in
IT as part of a software concept as the standard model for
individual software.
This approach aims to establish safe, ergonomic and
sustainable mining practices (Figure 1). Positive effects of
mining should be maximized and negative effects mini-
mized through the early and continuous development of
multiple uses. This principle makes Blue Mining a new
stage of mine planning, as these aspects need to be planned
at a very early stage of the mine.
The “Energiewende” (engl. Energy turnaround) in
Germany describes the increased use of renewable ener-
gies. In order to achieve this goal, many aspects need to be
considered and technologies developed. Due to the unreli-
ability of solar and wind energy, energy storage systems are
particularly important.
In storage, interdisciplinary research has been under-
taken to use closed mines to store wind energy. The study
confirmed that the use of these mines is possible in prin-
ciple. However, as these mines were planned for the extrac-
tion of raw materials, additional measures and therefore
costs are required in order to use them for another pur-
pose. In order to avoid these additional costs, the extraction
and storage of raw materials must be considered in parallel
Figure 1. Areas and principles of “Blue Mining” – Focus Energy (Langefeld and Binder 2017)
change can not only reduce the environmental impact, but
also contribute to economic resilience and increased social
acceptance of mining.
BLUE MINING
Mining has a significant impact on the natural and social
environment. The mining industry is more aware of these
impacts than other industries, especially with regard to its
historical heritage. Responsible mining is characterized by
this awareness and the management of impacts. In particu-
lar, mining companies are committed to supplying society
with raw materials and to supporting economic develop-
ment through the extraction of raw materials.
The generally recognized definition of sustainable
development according to the Brundtland Commission
reflects the combination of this awareness and the handling
of developments in the present and future. Sustainable
development is “development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future gen-
erations to meet their own needs 5. The promotion of sus-
tainable development must focus on increasing the positive
impacts for future generations while considering all areas of
sustainable mining practice. These include the economic,
environmental and social spheres, as well as the mining-
specific aspects of safety and resource efficiency 6.
The creation of cavities for underground mines, which
are used to access the deposit and develop mining meth-
ods, is a costly investment. Therefore, they must be used
as effectively as possible. Shafts and drifts are not only the
necessary mining preparation for extraction, but also a con-
nection from the surface to the underground that could
be used beyond the life of the mine if some measures are
planned and taken in advance. During and after mining,
the mine infrastructure can be used for energy storage and
energy transformation. In this way, the resource efficiency
of a mine can be improved by considering access to under-
ground resources.
This proposal for sustainable mining practice is part
of the Blue Mining approach introduced in 2013. Blue
Mining (BM) is a holistic approach that defines responsible
mining by going beyond resource extraction and utilizing
mine assets during and after production, based on a plan-
ning strategy that should start at the pre-feasibility studies
stage 7. The early planning of a machine used to be dem-
onstrated with a “blueprint,” reminiscent of the time when
there were no photocopiers and scanners. Blueprint can be
literally translated as “blueprint.” Today, this term is used in
IT as part of a software concept as the standard model for
individual software.
This approach aims to establish safe, ergonomic and
sustainable mining practices (Figure 1). Positive effects of
mining should be maximized and negative effects mini-
mized through the early and continuous development of
multiple uses. This principle makes Blue Mining a new
stage of mine planning, as these aspects need to be planned
at a very early stage of the mine.
The “Energiewende” (engl. Energy turnaround) in
Germany describes the increased use of renewable ener-
gies. In order to achieve this goal, many aspects need to be
considered and technologies developed. Due to the unreli-
ability of solar and wind energy, energy storage systems are
particularly important.
In storage, interdisciplinary research has been under-
taken to use closed mines to store wind energy. The study
confirmed that the use of these mines is possible in prin-
ciple. However, as these mines were planned for the extrac-
tion of raw materials, additional measures and therefore
costs are required in order to use them for another pur-
pose. In order to avoid these additional costs, the extraction
and storage of raw materials must be considered in parallel
Figure 1. Areas and principles of “Blue Mining” – Focus Energy (Langefeld and Binder 2017)