Author: Coal2019

The mining industry dates back to the 15th century, when people began to mine the ore. In the 18th century, the industry developed rapidly: new fields were discovered, their volumes and prospects were evaluated. It was the time when miner’s profession appeared. The Russian word “shakhter” and Ukrainian word “shakhtar” come from the German word “schacht” – an enterprise where mineral products are mined.

Most people respect this profession, but not everyone agrees to become one. Dangerous and difficult working conditions make one of the most popular professions in the 20th century rather unattractive today.

Mining has traditionally been associated with difficult working conditions, significant physical activity, serious damage to health and, unfortunately, a potential hazard to life. As far as coal-mining enterprises in Ukraine often work using earlier technologies, it makes the situation for miners even worse.

In order to find out how this profession has transformed over the past 60 years, we interviewed miners about their own experience. This is interesting from the point of view of comparative analysis, because the development process of Ukraine, Germany and Russia is different; therefore, the importance of mineral resources and the development of industries and professions is worlds apart.

Reference: Lviv-Volyn coal-basin is located in the north-west of Ukraine in the upstream of the Bug River and is the southeastern part of the Lublin coal-basin, located in Poland. The area of ​​the Lviv-Volyn coal-basin is 1400 km², the length  190 km, the average width – about 60 km. Original coal-in-place is about 970 million tons. The total coal reserves here do not exceed 1% of the explored reserves in Ukraine, coal depth is 300-650 m, depth of strata is 0.5-1.0 m, and 14 million tons of coal are mined here annually. Compared to Donbas, coal quality index is lower; the fuel has lower heating capacity and higher ash content. 

The development of this coal base contributed to the improvement of fuel balance of the Western region of Ukraine, the building of new industrial complexes, the origin of municipal settlements (Chervonohrad, Novovolynsk). The coal reserves are insignificant, so it was supposed that only two of 15 mines in the basin would function (there are nine operating mines in 2018). A significant part of this coal is used by Burshtyn TES and Dobrotvorskaya TES, a small part of it is exported to Belarus.

Therefore, we tried to find out how the miners of Chervonohrad see the development and transformation of their own profession. We were lucky to talk to the mining dynasty – father and son. We learned what they think about the position of miners in terms of time.

The son, Alexander, said that work at mine is “prestigious, the wages are good, opportunity of early seniority pension.” His grandfather, father, uncle also worked at mine, now his mother-in-law works there.

“Dad was a stope miner, grandfather was a stope miner and I became a stope miner. It runs in our family,” said Alexander.

For Vladimir, money turned out to be the main reason to choose miner’s profession, because he needed to provide his wife and two children.

“For example, Chervonohrad is a mining city. Wherever you look, you can see work everywhere. Although my father did not work at mine, he was connected to the mine. What pushed me to go to the mine? I saw young men who have just come out of the army, worked for a short time and got apartments. The miners were paid a big salary, this profession was considered prestigious. After working for two years on the internal transport, I had to train for a stope miner, as the children grew, and my family needed more money,” he explained.

Since the technologies are changing, we asked about the current equipment of the mines and last upgrade.

“The complex of 88-89 years is still working. The combine runs along the ridge, and not along the chain, this is a big difference, so we avoid the injuries by a chain,” said Vladimir.

“The equipment has been working since my father started working. The equipment is being restored at Novovolynsk repair and engineering plant. Some spare parts are replaced with new ones, but most of them are in the same condition as they were before,” added Alexander.

According most of workers, mine injuries still happen, because of this attitude to equipment.

Miners suffer from occupational diseases.

“I retired for health reasons – I have radiculitis. Humidity, constant drafts and acute exercise negatively affect health. The winding machine does not always work, and then you have to use human resource, what can harm the body,” complains Vladimir.

Now wages have increased significantly, but the state still does not really care about the miners. 

“Over eight years of my working experience, the wage has increased significantly. However, the state does not care about miners at all, letting everything run its course. This is why salary arrears happen, sometimes up to two months,” he continued.

Pensioners, whose payments by the way are not delayed, think it is important that the working miners receive their wages on time, so the profession would remain prestigious. 

“The miner doesn’t need a lot: he worked for a month, he wants his wages. After all, he has a family, he has to provide with food, clothes and safe place to live. Give miners their money and the mine will thrive!” considers Vladimir.

Miners’ opinions about the future of the miner’s profession and the development of the region as a whole vary.

“My mine should be closed a long time ago. As for the region, I think that there will be 1-2 mines left, so we need to build new plants, otherwise the region will become empty in 5-10 years. The territories mostly become swamps and nobody cares about them. There are no perspectives to make business there,” believes Alexander.

His father, Vladimir, is not so pessimistic about this: “Our region is a part of coal deposits located in Poland and the Czech Republic. This industry was developed not only because of coal, but also to increase the population and support the influx of new blood. This is a frontier zone. The Soviet authorities needed influence here. As for the closure of mines, this is, of course, bad for Chervonohrad, because the city depends on mines. There are no industries that would provide people with well-paid jobs. There are some plants, but they do not function. There is no good future for the town to expect. For example, territories could be planted with trees and a park could be built, but for this purpose, it is necessary to cover the territory with clay and earth against fires. The territory where the lava passed is likely to be flooded. These are enormous expenses, waste of money. It is impossible to build high buildings there, but it is allowed to build shopping centers, sports parks, or just parks. However, who will bother doing it?”

Miners face some obstacles every day. They have to confront the government, and the challenges that they set for themselves. This is a struggle with fears, for justice, for the prestige of their profession.

Although in reality, miners do not need a lot, just to get wages on time and for the state to take care of them. For example, to provide jobs, if the mines will be closed, or offer other job opportunities, because many miners have families.

We hope that those who have power will be able to choose the right path for the development of coal industry. We have vivid examples of the experience in Germany, Great Britain and other countries of European Union, where the only value is a human. Therefore, first, it is necessary to take into account people’s needs and interests, try to reduce the harm by making important decisions for the future of the state.)

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Germany has the largest economy in modern Europe. In the past, the coal industry used to play an important role; coal had been mined in the country for about two hundred years. Even now, German coal reserves are so large that they could meet national economy demands for many years to come. The main areas of coal mining are located in the main industrial centers of Germany – the Ruhr district and the Saar region. Brown coal is mined in three areas: in the Rhineland, Lausitz, and in the central part of Germany.

Previously, open-pit mining was the dominant method. Over time, the extraction of coal went deeper into the ground, became more costly, and, as a result, was no longer economically profitable. As the coal industry in Germany is subsidized, the government decided to cut funding and completely stop coal mining operations by 2018. Termination of brown coal mining is planned for 2050.

We visited Lausitz, the second largest brown coal mining region in Germany, to personally meet with former coal mine workers and ask them about how it was before and is now. Almost in the center of Lausitz, on the border between the Brandenburg and Saxony regions, lies the town of Hoyerswerda. There, we met with Jan Masnica and Frank Hirche. Today, they are retired from mining and engineering, but in previous years and decades each has made an important contribution to the local coal industry development in Lausitz.

Mr. Masnica picked up the map of Lausitz: “I worked in several quarries, but the longest in Schwartz Pumpe. That was a world-class open-pit mine; approximately 310 million tons of coal was mined there per year. There’s nothing like it in the world to compare with, although, it was all achieved at the expense of damaging the earth. If you look closely at the map, you will notice dark spots – areas where landscape was destroyed. The issue of environmental damage, however, was not raised at that time.”

What is the main difference in how state agencies treated mine workers back in your days and nowadays? People usually lived in cities around coal mines in which they worked, for example, in Hoyerswerda. The government took care of those who labored in the mines. Today, it is not the case. Back in the GDR days, if you came here as a miner, there would be high chances of finding a job easily, earning well, getting an apartment quickly, and also reaping benefits. Today, it is not the case. Salaries remained high, but the overall range of social services disappeared. There is no incentive to connect your life with this occupation anymore.

What can you say about training for mining specialties? Around Hoyerswerda there were several colleges where they trained specialists in car maintenance for quarries. I myself have received several qualifications, starting as a mechanic in the mine.

Today, the majority of engineering and mining professions are not available for training; however, there are more and more opportunities for obtaining qualifications in the field of coal mining reclamation. Coal will be mined for a maximum of another 20-30 years, which is equivalent to one generation time. Therefore, recultivation of landscapes has become one of the leading areas in educational institutions that used to train workers for the maintenance of mines.

Mr. Hirche, this question is for you. In your opinion, what is the future of the coal industry? Coal mining in Lausitz had two sides of the coin. On the one hand, it was abundance of well-paid jobs, on the other – destruction of environment. The number of jobs is constantly decreasing, while discussions about environmental destruction are growing. Everything comes to a logical end. Therefore, brown coal has no future.

Regarding nature and pollution, has anyone raised such concerns in the 70-80s? Back then nobody was concerned about these issues, either in the East or West Germany. It was clear to everyone that if there was a plan to create a coal mine, then the next two villages must disappear. And you know, people took it for granted, there were no long discussions. But, of course, people had a hard time leaving their homes. Today, at least, you can complain, protest. Previously, this was unacceptable.

Mr. Masnica, what is the value of miner’s profession? There is a collective custom between miners – to be always together. This manifests itself both in the literal sense during work and in everyday life. State policy cannot influence this.

Authors: Victoria Slobodchikova and Roman Boichuk

Two lives. Two stories Two future.

Interview with Ekaterina Tsettel from the Russian city Kemerovo. Economist by education, Ekaterina owns the decoration and floristics workshop along with her husband, and decorates different kinds of events. Ekaterina spoke with us about the life in a coal region, shared some thoughts about the prospects od Kuzbass, and also about her own plans for future.

Interview with Anna Bokovaya from the Ukreinian city Bakhmut.

Urbanization and revitalization: what and how?

In simple terms, “urbanization” (from the Latin urbanus – municipal/urban) is the spread of urban lifestyles in a particular region, country, and the world, associated with the rapid growth of population. Revitalization (from lat. Re … – restoration and vita – life, literally: the return of life) – a concept that characterizes the processes of restoration, animation, reproduction. We will consider the definition of urbanization in the context of transformation (revitalization) of miner’s regions, and now abandoned buildings on the background of small towns “on the suburb”.

In the Soviet Union, as never before, they built factories and used mass production. This included mining industry, which was the main way of extracting black and brown coal for energy capture. Once upon a time, economic development was planned at the enterprises, and today workers are receiving a delay in wages, terrible and even dangerous working conditions, and the closure of mines. All this once developed infrastructure, and remained to be completely without business. In the worst case, it was left to be ruined in the next few years. Fortunately, some of this buildings will have a brighter future.

How to transform coal regions in Ukraine?

The first positive news – the transformation has already begun! Over the past few years, there have been many examples of qualitative revitalization of old abandoned buildings, which once served as powerful plants for the entire CIS. Yes, these are not former mines, but worthy examples for their further imitation!

REZAVOD – previously the Lviv Plant of Radio Equipment. It has been transformed into a modern eco-coworking, a place for development of people from creative industries. The initiators of the space themselves arranged the old rooms as a kind of offices and began to grow the urban transformation culture. Each floor has a certain theme, some make branded products, others work like co-workings, photo studios, dance halls, etc. In addition, a Festival with the same name was founded

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Another popular institution in Lviv is !FESTrepublic. Once the factory “Halychglass”, and now a popular club, a place for events, and the office of one of the most comprehensive network of restaurateurs in Lviv. In the last year there was also opened the garden on the roof. This is a project of Impact Investment, where investors simultaneously invest in social impact of the region and receive a return on investment in the form of dividends.

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Promprylad – Ivano-Frankivsk Innovation Center based on an old factory, which works at the intersection of four focal points of the region’s development: new economy and urbanism, modern art and education. The project team aims to concentrate here the creative potential of the city and thus contribute to the development of the region. Now for launching the pilot floor they have attracted 1.2 million dollars. There are 16 different business, educational and cultural initiatives from different operators. Subsequently, the initiators seek funds and partners to redeem and revitalize the rest of the territory of the abandoned plant (36,577 m²).

Jam factory Art Center – formerly was the Factory of alcohol products and sweetened cornices “Kronik and Son”. In Soviet times, the winery “Ukrgolowine” worked there, and later on this place was organized processing of vegetables. In the 2000s, any work on this territory was stopped. With the consent of owners of the premises, activists and artists started organizing cultural events at the “Jam Factory” (as it was called). Here were held the “Week of Contemporary Art”, Lviv Fashion Week, cinema shows and concerts. And in 2019 they plan to fully equip the art space in which will be exhibitions of contemporary art, an artistic residence-workshop, a cafe and a courtyard with a stage where cinema shows and concerts will be held.

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These are examples only of the western part of Ukraine, which are already in action and make a great contribution to the future development of local communities. It is not only about cultural development but also about financial profit, because the abandoned space does not bring income, moreover, is just a loss of taxes, but can earn money on conducting interesting events, renting. Accordingly, local governments receive taxes that can be invested in infrastructure development.

In more developed cities like Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, it is easier to popularize culture and find investors for such projects than in small miner cities, such as Novovolynsk or Chervonohrad.

Novovolynsk is a city that was created 60 years ago because coal deposits were found there. The leadership of the Soviet Union decided to create a city of coal industry, bring workers here and successfully start coal mining. And it happened. For more than 50 years, the mines in Novovolynsk have mined coal and provided the country with them. But now, when the process of civilization has gone forward and natural reserves in the bowels of the earth are exhausted, a big problem is occured. Mines are closed, people are running out of working places, depression is increasing. Buildings and stone pits above the ground remain abandoned. Taking the example of western colleagues, one can revitalize these structures, and develop, at least in small businesses, as it is partly done in Chervonograd, but as a maximum – in industrial production. It is possible to draw attention to this situation to the community and young people and making together efforts to transform their region, which once was so promising, and is now abandoned. Moreover, the youth of the city are not indifferent to this problem and show everyone that there is a future, it is shiny and bright.

How was this problem solved in Germany

Coal mining in Germany stopped at all. In 2018, the last two coal mines were closed. The reason for a such strategic decision was that extraction coal is more expensive than it`s import.

But they also found a way out. There is a mine called the most beautiful in the world – Zollverein. It is located in Essen, the Ruhr region, and ceased its work in 1986. Its territory is now conditionally divided into three zones. One remained an immaculate monument, the second became a cultural and entertainment center, the third zone – mine №12, on its territory is now the main tourist part. Here are located the orphaned museums, picture alarms and cinema showrooms. They even transform the pool for the absorption of heated coke into a skating rink during winter time.

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Each year, this industrial monument is visited by more than 1.5 million tourists. And it is not surprising that the Zeche Zollverein mine is awarded with the UNESCO World Heritage status in 2001

Tour guides say that the park has a certain joy in every season. In the summer, for example, from the roof of the old carbon-smoke opens a stunning view of the Ruhr region. In the autumn, the so-called industrial grove (Industriewäldchen), planted in ore dumps, looks fantastic. In winter, the center of entertainment becomes the skating rink, and in spring you can walk around a circular boulevard, the length of which is 3.5 kilometers.

As you can see, urbanization affects all the abandoned buildings that could again benefit for their communities, as well. Of course, this is more often the case for large cities and regions, but more and more there are daring and creative people who see prospects where there is a ruin. And this is a positive trend, at least because people living in the city or visiting it will better know its history, and will see it, as well as the fact, that this history will remain valuable for generations to come. Moreover, if this story will be combined with the present-day`s design, you can feel the atmosphere and the presence of new life in it.

Google says that the Donbass it is Ukraine, a cancerous tumor, a film by Sergei Loznitsa, a washing machine … Do these positions clarify at least something? Why do we know so little about one of the most urbanized regions of the world? On his personal history, the history of his women, children, the history of exhausting mining work.

Now we have the opportunity to say that for a long time it was subject to stereotypes and myths. About those who were overgrown with incredible stories, they themselves became sources of these stories and made the whole world around them believe in them. We will talk about the miners. About what they really are – people who spend a third of their lifes underground.

Every year in Ukraine dozens of large-scale festivals are held, which attract representatives of various states, professions, genders and social status, whose activities are covered by newspapers, television and radio stations. About this festival wrote only one online newspaper of the regional scale, but for the city in which it took place – this is an event that influenced a lot.

Small mining towns are vivid illustrations of the remains of the past. Cultural life here stopped at the remaining points of enthusiasm honorary workers of the Houses of Culture. City events, like identical twins – embroidered shirts, children’s amateur activities, leading with a leather folder and mountains of bottles, shyly hiding their necks in metal trash bins.

And no, there are no more alternatives. Cultural life is on the outskirts, and on the front page there are problems with non-payment of salaries, high prices for a communal flat and a new dollar exchange rate.

The first festival was a completely unique event in the city. And the next one – the one that will be discussed – was already full of expectations, because the bar was set.

Everybody was outraged: the lack of a scene, a man with a leather folder, alcohol and the fact that the action took place simultaneously in several corners of the old park – the park, in which for more than 15 years only dogs walked, occasionally taking owners with them. But the guests of the event did not know that the organizers set an impossible task – to change the stereotypes about lack of culture and the stereotyping of the miners and connected not only the residents of the city, but also other parts of Ukraine.

The organizers say it was scary. It is terrible that those who are accustomed to holidays on the “main square” will not come to the old, abandoned park. That the residents of the sleeping area, who are accustomed to silence, will be against loud music, and from the improvised urns in the morning the neck of the glass bottles will again look bashful.

But stereotypes have fallen at the first festival. And this time the city again saw that rest is when children are with their parents, this is when the leaders are in the center of events, when adults cook dumplings, and children sell them, when a cultural, understanding line is built for free mojito, and then the guests of the festival help to bring desks to the nearest school …

“I have never heard so many words of “thank you” in one day. Probably, it was my most useful weekend, – says one of the local masters of the festival shared her impressions.

Today, more and more often in small mining towns, gray lampposts adorn the bright posters of future festivals. Increasingly, instead of spending the evening in the company of alcohol and gambling, the miners and their families make other choices. Soft drinks, a conscious approach to life, board games and family scrabble tournaments come into fashion. In conversations, everything is also the main theme – war. But then, when all the painful topics are covered, there comes a moment of talk about rest, as if it was a completely new phenomenon in this now new life. And the life of the town freezes to the next cultural breath.

Miners are people with a difficult past, a difficult present and a very visionary future … And just like people of other professions, they tend to walk along the beaten track of stereotypes, indifference, and irresponsibility. They really need all these festivals, concerts and soda machines. Then they believe that after hard, exhausting work there is something. And this something – new, interesting – becomes a constant part of their new life.

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Every second ton of coal in Russia is mined in Kuzbass. This largest coal basin is located in the south of Western Siberia, Kemerovo region. More than 94,000 Kuzbass people are employed on enterprises of the coal industry – it’s about 8% of employed people in Kemerovo region.

To understand how miners treat to their life-work we met three representatives of this profession. Each of them symbolizes a whole generation of miners – past, present and future.

The first hero is a retiree Yurii. He is 68 years old, 45 of which he dedicated to coal mining as an engineer. Representative of the “present” generation is 47-year-old Alexander.During 29 years he has been working in mine.   He started his career as a a usualworker, and now he is  a boss.  The youngest hero is Vladimir (31 years old), who only becomes acquainted with the profession. He has 2-years of experience. We asked them the same questions to find out whether the miner’s profession transforms over time and how it happens.

– Is there a need to have “miner” profession?

Past

– The mining profession is necessary to have. Miners make extraction of coal, which is needed to havefor industry, and, consequently,for society. I have worked all my life in the coal industry. I liked this profession. My grandfather, father and many relatives were miners, so I became a miner as well. I was born and lived in a mining town. I have not seen another life.

present

– Miners produce coal and give people warmth.  I am responsible for mine safety, what  is very important. There is a chance of gas explosion at  certain concentration. My task is to prevent serious consequences.

future

– The value of the miner profession is producing of coal for export. And for miner, in its tern, his own safety is important.

– Let’s talk about financing. What is the salary of miners? How many funds are allocated to finance equipment in mines?

past

– When my father and close relatives worked (1950-1970), miners had decent salary compared to other professions. Work of miners was also well paid in my time. Now salary is not on the highest level. There are drivers who earn much more, and I still don´t  mention bank employees and economists.

Also there is a huge gap between usual workers and managers. Of course,leaders have to have great theoretical and practical knowledge, therefore managers have a higher salary.

When I started to work, new equipment just started to appear. Nowadays the financing is better. When there are no costs to purchase equipment, then there will be no coal mining.

present

– In comparing with other regions, my salary is average. But in common, the salary of miners is too low, despite the fact that the work of a miner is dangerous. Requirements to the underground work conditions become  more strict. Hence, funding gets higher tobuy more modern equipment.

future

– Salary is low. People go down to the mine and risk their health. Friends ask me: “How do you work in a mine? It’s damp, dark and scary there. Are you not afraid? ” I’m not afraid. But anyway I’m working there because of money. In the past I did a lot of sport and worked on the railway. But my salary didn´t change during 7 years. Working as a miner I have a career opportunities. In addition, I get an education at the expense of the company.

– What are the miner´s benefits?

past

– The 50-year retirement is the main benefit of miners. It  is 10 years earlier than other professions. This difference has become even bigger after increasing the age of retirement. As a veteran I can pay less for a bus fare. I still get some money back when I pay my rent.

present

Miners have additional holidays for hard working conditions. We can be treated in sanatoriums for free. As well, the company pays round trip ticket to the place of holidays for the whole family of a miner.

future

– We have free treatment. Firstly, you buy medicine or trips to  sanatorium by your own, and then the company returns this money back. We get additional vacation days depending on your experience and condition of work. Someone has 31 extra days of holidays, someone 38, and for example, welders even 45 days. As a result, the holidays of miners consists of more than two months a year.

– How the coal industry affects the environment?
past

– As I am an engineer, I can give some assessment. It is necessary to make recultivation in the open coal mines. Just a layer of few centimeters is fertile. It must be stored and then filled with sand. It lasts 2-3 years. During this time beneficial microorganisms die and, as a result, only black color remains from the fertile land. Even if they make recultivation of the land, nothing will grow for a long time.

Huge cars drive coal. They are like railroad cars. They produce dust and exhaust gases. Environmental pollution was, is and will be. We have to take care about ecology, and not only on paper.

present

– Of course, the mines are harmful. Exhaust gases go to the atmosphere. But, but there is a budget for a land reclamation. Specialaggregates exist for the disposal of methane. They generate electricity, which is then reused.

future

– I live in a coal town and I know what is happening. Of course, mine brings harm to the environment. I do not know, if there is less emissions now or not. But it seems to me that nothing has decreased. The smoke and soot still remain.

– What do you think about alternative energy sources? Can they replace coal?

past

– Why not? But no one will will use alterrative energy sources, while there is gas, oil and coal. For example, solar panels should be installed only where the sun is constantly shining, hich is not happening in our region. And what will we do without coal?

present

– Alternative sources of electricity will not be able to replace coal. We have a lot of production. We cannot live without coal in the next 50-100 years

future

– Perhaps, alternative energy sources will be able to replace coal in future. It would be nice. But this is not particularly common in Russia.

– Tell us about the terrible side of the mining profession. I mean accidents, deaths, injuries. Have you encountered those?

past

– Of course, I came across of this. There were deaths and tragedies. Especially, when coal was mined by hand. In those days, so many peopledied. Then it became less. It is dangerous to work in mine. I can say, if you follow the requirements of safety rules, nothing terrible will happen

present

– I started to work in the 90s. At that time there were  series of major accidents. Now they happen much more rare. After all, equipment and attitudes of people were improved. They follow safety precautions. We have a lot of briefings and people are constantly being trained.

future

– The profession is traumatic. Today I damagedmy legs by felling downNow I am staying at home with bruises. There are also deaths accidents, but God forbid.

– How do you see the development of the region in coal industry?

past

– It all depends on the demand for coal, which is still a high. A huge amount of coal remains in the depths. If it is inconvenient to mine, company can always receive permission and moveto another place. This is a pity, because for our descendants it will be very difficult to approach abandoned reserves. I believe that there is no need to rely on oil and gas, and coal has been, is and will be. And I feel that for a long time it will be needed as a source of energy safety.

present

– I think there will be more mines. Coal is in demand. Even those mines, which were closed once, have been reactivated and now are working.

future

– There will be no more mines than now. I have heard that in Prokopyevsk all mines are already closed. From there people come to work to our mine. That means, that, there is no place, where new mines can be opened.

REFERENCE

Kuzbass accounts for 59% of total coal production in the country and 80% of the coking coal, as well as 76% of the total all-Russian export of this type of fuel. According to the Federal Customs Service of Russia, the Kemerovo Region delivers coal to 64 countries of the world. The largest importers of Kuzbass coal are South Korea, Japan, Turkey, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United Kingdom.

Now 42 mines and 51 opencast mining complexes produce coal in Kuzbass. In 2018, coal miners produced more than 255.3 million tons of “black gold”, 57% of which were exported (145.8 million tons).

From a pickaxe and a shovel to remote control of combines – for many centuries the mining profession has gone through a great transformation. Not only the coal mining method has changed, but also the people working underground. Seven brave and strong miners from different countries told us about their hard work. The prestige of the profession, the danger and the future of mines, these all you will find in interviews with our heroes.

Reading the interview, remember that our heroes live and work in coal-mining, but still different countries – Germany, Russia and Ukraine – each of them has its own history, level of economic development and  vision for the next several years. In order to make it easier, below we represent the figures, which briefly characterize the past, present and future of the coal industry in those countries.

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Kemerovo Region is an industrial area. Now the business is focused on coal industry, but there used to be other kinds of industries. In suburbs of the city Kemerovo there are lots of industrial buildings, some of them partly destroyed. Moreover, there are such buildings in the city centre, but they are successfully used.

For example, there are three-storey business-centre “Sozvezdiye” in the Street 50 let Oktyabrya and eight-storey “ZETA” next to it. It used to be one group of buildings of former Plant of Electotechnical Facilities, which was closed due to bankruptcy in 1995.

Fortunately, local entrepreneurs didn’t just leave these square meters empty. They opened insurance companies, cosmetics companies, dance studio, advertising agency and other business in “ZETA” building.

“Sozvesdiye” building offers gross leasable areas to fitness-studios, garment manufactures, ceramics studio, photo studios and other small businesses. In this building with big windows there is a big fenced lift, which doesn’t work. Out of the windows you can see other buildings, which used to be part of the plant and are now hidden from people’s eyes.

One of those buildings, which stands separate, belongs to car dealer Audi. The face of the building was covered with a different material, walls were changed to floor-to-ceiling windows, which allow us to see new cars inside. The building has its own entrance and a branded flag streaming in the wind.

In the photo you can see the other example of reconstruction in the city centre:

It used to be Kemerovo electromechanical plant, which was moved to Kuzbass from Kharkiv during the Eastern Front of the Second World War.

The plant doesn’t exist any more and the building was reconstructed for business centre with different offices like photo studio, tattoo-studio, tailor’s, quests, building companies and others.

It’s necessary to mention former community centre “Himprom”. This building is located far from the city centre in Stahanovskaya Street. It looks like a palace and has big windows, columns inside and out, molding, huge ceiling lamp, stairs. The building itself is used as a big bright photo studio and all the above mentioned elements make it really special.

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However there are lots of empty buildings, which are not really attractive for investors. But I’m sure our city is going to change for the better and use these buildings to advantage.

Kuzbass is called coal region for a reason. Big part of the region is engaged in business with coal mines and open-cuts. They are also called wounds on the region’s body. For example, this year it is planned to mine more than 200 million tonnes of coal, and this number increases every year.

Government is aware of this problem and makes attempts to heal wounds of Kuzbass, but it’s not easy. People are being resettled, injured territories – recultivated, but obviously it’s not enough and more serious measures should be taken.

After coal resources are exhausted, what happens to open-cut? It seems that the territory is just fenced off and left to recover by the nature.

There is a better way to treat these territories by inviting people to relax, walk and enjoy their free time. Why not? It’s hard to believe but it is really possible. It was done in Germany, in coal region Lausitz.

Look at this place! It used to be an open-cut coal mine. Now you can see an artificial lake, quay with cycling roads and a big park zone.

Grapes are grown on the slopes of former open-cut – you can see straight rows of grapes. There is a cycling road along the lake where you can do some sport. There is also a cafe to spend a good time. It’s hard to believe that once everything was covered with black dust and dozers transported tonnes of coal.

Another example is an amazing museum on the territory of former plant, where briquette coal was produced. Now in this building you can see dozens of machines, which functioned years ago and are still in working conditions.

When we go up the spiral staircase, we can see a bridge to the upper storey of the plant. It’s clean inside, but still noticeable that people had been working here for a long time

The guide is an older man who worked at this plant and he promises to bring back to life stopped production for us.

“We spent every shift in this awful noise” – says the guide turning on the machine for sifting coal. It starts slowly, but gradually becomes really loud.

“We had to listen attentively to the way machines work, because breakages could cause suspension of production and even people’s deaths”, shouts he noise down.

Then he smiles satisfied with the impression he makes and asks us to follow him.

We can see a huge revolving spirals, which were used for drying coal, so that it was easy to burn. These spirals got warm, but not enough for coal to burn, but some unforeseen accidents caused people’s deaths. After that dry coal went under the press.

accident, when this heavy wheel came off and went up destroying three floors and causing several deaths

The guide holds a tough black bar sized a brick, it’s a briquette coal. It’s rather heavy with inscription “Record” on it.

Impressions of this excursion are controversial. On the one hand, it’s very sad, that to provide their families people had to work in such difficult conditions. On the other hand, it’s very impressive that this history lives and it wasn’t destroyed. On the contrary, it was invested a lot to let other people understand how the fabric worked. For the safety of visitors special gates are equipped.

Today this former plant earns money in a different way, the safe one, and coal plant has become a basis for it.

It would be great if other countries used German experience. It’s not safe to leave such buildings without attendance, they are great historical exhibits, which can earn money for the person who will keep coal heritage alive.

It’s obvious that to decrease the harm of coal mining a lot of time and investments are needed. Not everyone will dare open a restaurant not far from closed open-cut coal mines.

However the progress is noticeable and it’s pleasant to visit that kind of places. Coal regions all around the world should use this fantastic experience to recreate territories which were disturbed by coal mining.