Implementation of the Romanian Mining Strategy 2017-2035, with special regard to pit coal: failure or abandonment?

Jiu Valley is currently the only national mining basin capable of producing pit coal. Romania has undergone an extensive industrial restructuring in the last 30 years, including mining, which has led to job losses, generated economic-social and environmental effects that have severely affected the quality of life of the inhabitants of mining communities. As a consequence, the Mining Strategy of Romania 2017 - 2035 was elaborated. The paper analyses the objectives, measures and actions provided in the strategy related to the exploitation of pit coal, putting, face to face, the true state of the mines and the inhabitants of Jiu Valley. 4 years after the elaboration of the Strategy, it is clear that it has not yet come to life: mines are still being closed, there is no clear vision for the sustainable development of mining communities, the mine closure process, the greening of post-closure areas is difficult or not at all, research (e.g. capture of methane from coal), development and innovation are not stimulated, the operation of coal-fired power plants is endangered, with major implications on the supply of inhabitants with heating and of domestic hot water -resulting in major discomfort for locals.

A Review about the Sustainability of Pit Lakes as a Rehabilitation Factor after Mine Closure

At the end of surface mining activities, the remnant voids are of great concern regarding rehabilitating the final open pits. The investigation of the sustainability of pit lakes in post-mining regions constitutes a challenging research problem. This paper aims to highlight the effectiveness of pit lakes as a rehabilitation factor. In this framework, several cases worldwide and in Greece were examined in detail and evaluated. The results indicate that mine pit lakes must be evaluated as dynamic systems, natural or artificial, which demand rational mine water management to ensure their sustainability. Specifically in Greece, it is of great importance during the transition to the post-lignite era.

Are pit lakes an environmentally sustainable closure option for opencast coal mines?

The aim of the study is to determine if pit lakes are a sustainable coal mine closure option in South African. The water balance, chemistry, limnology, and bacterial population of three selected pit lakes were investigated. The lakes are in the three major coal basins of South Africa and are associated with different lithologies and mining methods. The major factors driving the water balance of the pit lakes are direct rainfall, runoff, inflow from old mine workings, and groundwater infiltration, with the major losses being evaporation or discharge onto surface. The study indicated that pit lakes can be designed as 'terminal sinks' to provide a sustainable mine closure option. The pit lakes sampled have an alkaline pH, and mostly a sodium/calcium sulphate water with total dissolved solids content of less than 3000 mg/l. The phytoplankton and microbiological data indicates that the pit lakes support aquatic life. The study shows that correctly designed pit lakes can be an environmentally sustainable closure option for South Africa's coal mines. A suggested design manual has been developed to assist mine owners and regulators in developing sustainable coal mine pit lakes as a closure option.