In July 2013, a contract was signed in the Chinese city of Tangshan between RAG Mining Solutions, Kailuan Coal Group, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) concerning a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project. The objective of the project is “to implement the knowledge about occupational safety and health protection acquired by the German coal mining industry into the Kailuan Coal Group in the form of educational and further training measures.” The PPP project will run from 2013 until 2015 and includes the subjects of accident black spots in the fields of roadheading, logistics and coal winning, ventilation, fire protection, hazardous substances, explosion protection and mine rescue.

RAG Mining Solutions (Beijing) was involved in the design and preparation of the project from the beginning, and will actively support the project as the local point of contact, service provider and clearing house. This also includes continuing talks between the two companies about the collaboration in other product fields, such as consulting services for mine development, ventilation and climate technology as well as automation. During the ceremony for the signing of the contract, Zhang Zhiyou, the Chief Human Resources Officer at Kailuan Coal Group, and Mr Dieter Mantwill, General Manager and Head of the HSE-division at RAG Mining Solutions, emphasised the special significance of the project, which will sustainably improve occupational safety in Chinese mining as part of this two year programme. “For us, it’s not about preaching and wagging fingers. Instead, we want to implement the project as partners,” said Mantwill after signing the contracts.

Jürgen Steiger, Director of GIZ China, expressed the satisfaction from his organisation about entering into another partnership with RAG, which will completely conform to the objectives of the GIZ as well as those of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). “The safety of miners is a subject which is now enjoying top priority in China as well, and which we are pleased to support with this proportional funding – we will use it as a flagship project for upcoming tasks,” said Steiger.