State of the Lignite Rehabilitation and Current Challenges

Abstract

In the times of the eastern block mining facilities and mineral deposits had been in the ownership of the public (German Democratic Republic state-property). After the political turn in the last period of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and after the German reunification the viable part of mining industry became privatized, for example parts of lignite mining and quarrystone industry. The non viable parts of mining industry had been overtaken by special federal companies. Lignite mines and up-grading facilities was overtaken by the federal Lausitzer und Mitteldeutsche Braunkohlenverwaltungsgesellschaft (LMBV).