In the Foreword to his forthcoming Old Pond book about Europe's surface mines and machines, Walking with Giants, Steven Vale addresses the question of transparency. Steven writes:
"The fact that European surface mining has made huge progress in improving its negative image as a noisy and dusty industry is something that is perhaps not always appreciated or understood.
"It is inevitable that where there are earthmoving machines there will be noise and dust, but some mines – especially those in Britain – are going to great lengths to reduce levels beyond what is expected. Novel noise- and dust-suppression systems, such as those developed by Banks Mining and Miller Argent, are to be applauded for leading the industry in the right direction.
"Safety is yet another area that has come under serious scrutiny. It is not just about wearing the right clothing and protective gear, safety also applies to machinery. There is no better example of what can be done to improve safety around machines than those measures taken at Broken Cross, a coal mine owned by Scottish Coal. This mine has put a great deal of money and thought into raising safety awareness in and around their huge trucks.
"However, despite the expensive efforts being made to increase the safety of workforces as well as reduce environmental impact, Britain’s coal mines continue to attract protestors who are keen to shut them down. Perhaps the answer to this problem lies with the practices of other mines in Europe. British mining ought to consider three European mines in particular - mines which not only bring more transparency to the business but also make a bit of extra cash in the process.
"One of Europe’s best kept secrets concerns New Boliden’s Swedish Aitik copper mine [top picture], Rio Tinto Minerals’ French Luzenac talc mine [bottom left] and RWE Power’s huge German lignite mines [bottom right]. The secret is that all of these mines can be accessed by tourists at certain times of the year.
"Surprisingly, or not as the case may be, there is huge interest in all three locations, which attract over 120,000 visitors a year between them. While the big machines are the star attractions, the general public is also keen to learn more about new measures being taken to reduce noise and dust. Visitors also express an interest in learning about the restoration plans for the land once the mining is finished."
Comments