FYI
Paul
European Federation of Geologists
GEONEWS December 2006
This Issue contains:
* Info and news from the European Legislation Process related to
the working groups:
1. GENERAL NEWS (Recent EFG Multi-Country workshop,
Budapest)
2. RESOURCES AND RESERVES -MINERALS AND THEIR
SUSTAINABLE USE
4. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
5. JOB OPPORTUNITIES
* More information about events is available on the EFG website:
http://www.eurogeologists.de/events_june_2006.HTM
1. GENERAL NEWS
-Multi-Country workshop on EU legislation and best practices in geology
for sustainable use ofnatural resources, Co-organized by EUROPEAN
FEDERATION OF GEOLOGISTS (EFG), GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF HUNGARY, AND
HUNGARIAN GEOLOGICAL SURVEY in collaboration with the European
Commission, 21 - 22 November 2006, Budapest, Hungary.
This workshop gave the opportunity to geologists and administrator
coming from twenty Europe countries to discuss how European Legislation
influences the Geological Profesion, particularly with regard to
sustainable use of natural resources.
The aim of the workshop was to present the current state of
implementation of legislation and initiatives at EU-level, which are
related to the sustainable use of natural resources and geology. A
substantial discussion by representatives of regional development and
land use management authorities, relevant industries, and geoscientist
professionals took place about the current issues particularly
associated with geological expert based policies, regulations and the
availability of spatial geoinformation. The workshop focused in
particular on natural resources management and evaluation including
minerals, water, soil, oil and gas. Environmental impact, renewable
energy and safety aspects of sustainable development were also treated
at national, regional, and local level, taking into account the
relationship to economic growth.
Very high levels of presentations were made by representatives of the
European Commission, members of European Federation of Geologists,
Hungarian Geological Survey and other organizations such EuroGeoSurvey,
and European Geothermal Energy Council.
The participants were mostly geologists and they represented more than
twenty European countries. The countries supported by Taiex in this
workshop were the new EU Members. And some other countries
participaticipated in the workshop: Croatia, Serbia, Netherlands,
Portugal. In total the number of participants and speakers was 56.
During the workshop, EFG had the opportunity to strengthen relationships
with some European countries and potential new EFG members such as:
Serbia, Croatia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
The workshop was divided into four sessions.
*Session A: General Framework
*Session B: Sustainable use of mineral resources
*Session C: Sustainable use of water and soil resources
*Session D: Sustainable Use of Energy
The workshop concluded with a discussion of national practice in the
different resources areas and the of views between participants and
speakers. Each session tried to answer two questins: What support and
services can Geologists offer in terms of a sustainable use of natural
resources? What do Geologists need to ensure these services?.
Geologists' duties in the field of European legislation and the
insufficient penetration in regional development and land use planning
were presented. More communication between geologists and the regional,
national and European authorities will be necessary.
EFG has received a very positive evaluation of the event and would like
to thank all the participants, speakers, and in particular the European
Commission, Technical Assistance Information Exchange Unit in DG
Enlargement for facilitating this workshop.
More information about the workshop can be found on the Taiex website,
http://taiex.ceceu.int/, Library, EventId: 23132. EFG is preparing a CD
containing most of the presentations. If you are interested in obtaining
the CD, please contact the EFG Office in Brussels by email
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EVENTS
-EFG BOARD MEETING AND INFORMAL COUNCIL MEETING, BRUSSELS 8-10 DECEMBER
2006. Geological Survey of Belgium, Rue Jenner, 13, B-1000, Brussels,
Belgium.
2. RESOURCES AND RESERVES -MINERALS AND THEIR SUSTAINABLE USE
-EFG attended the European Minerals Forum 2006 "Addressing The Social
Challenges". This Forum took place on Tuesday 28 November 2006,
Brussels Belgium. The different policy groups were:
* PG 1:Preventing Occupational Accidents,
* PG 2: Managing land and communicating with the local community
(EFG attended)
* PG 3: Attracting Young People to the Industry (EFG attended)
* PG 4: Reducing Noise, Vibration and Dust
PG 3: Attracting Young People to the Industry (Summary report)
Chair: Claude Stenneler, president, IMA-Europe
Introduction:Professor Nicolai Martens, Technical University of Aachen,
Germany
Policy Rapporteur: Corina Hebestreit, Secretary General, Euromines
Lead Commission Representative: Jackie Morin, DG Employment, Social
Affairs and Equal Opportunities
The number of students in programmes related to the mining sector has
been reduced. In the last 20 years, 20% of programmes have been closed.
Among the main reasons are the negative image of the sector and lack of
knwoledge about the industry. Many young people choose preferencially
other engineering programmes and graduates often develop their
proffessional carreers in other engineering sectors.
The main conclusions were support of mining departments in Universities,
improvement of the recruitment and assumption of teaching
responsibilities by the professors. The cooperation between industry, EU
and university is necessary.
EVENTS
-15th Meeting of the Association of European Geological Societies
(MAEGS-15), "Georesources and public policy: research, management,
environment". 16-20 September 2007, Tallinn, Estonia. Co-organized by
the Association of European Geological Societies (AEGS) and the
Geological Society of Estonia (EgeoS). The scientific focus of the
MAEGS-15 conference will be on the formation, sustainable use management
of various georesources including, but not limited to, oil and gas
(including methane hydrates), oil-shale and coal, mineral ores
(including platinum group elements), raw materials, peat and soil, and
groundwater.
1 January 2007. Deadline for "Early Bird" registration and payment of
reduced fee.
Should you have any questions or need further information please check
the conference website and do not hesitate to contact the organizers.
Website: www.maegs15.org
E-mai: [log in to unmask]
Phone: +327 620 30 10
-The 11th Nordic Research Seminar about Aggregates. 16-17 January 2007,
Trondheim, Norway. The aim of this seminar is to spread information
about new research projects to map out research activities in the Nordic
countries and to create a contact net between different research fields
and institutions. The conference will focus on the following themes:
* Stone Materials in the Nordic Countries
* The Business Situation
* Health, environment and safety
* Sustainable development and production in the Nordic countries
* Test methods
* Properties
* Technology
Contacts:
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-2nd Extractive Industry and the Environment in Central Europe (EIECE
2007), 12-14 September 2007, Brno, Czech Republic. Organized by Tezebni
unie CZ (Czech Mining Union) in cooperation with EUROMINES - European
Association of Mining Industries. Topic of the conference "Extractive
development and competitiveness of the extractive industry in the EU".
Topics of presentation blocks:
-1. Sustainable development / license to operate
-2. Competitiveness of the extractive industry in the EU
-3. EU legislation and the extractive industry
If you are interested in participating or giving a presentation at the
conference on any of the above mentioned topics, please contact the
conference organizer.
Contacts:
Tezebni unie
Tel: +420 545 193 411, Fax: + 420 545 211 014
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
www.tezebni-unie.cz
Mgr. Milena Sandova, Executive Director of Tezebni unie CZ
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Mgr. David Poc
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Renata Netouskova
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3. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY AND CO2 SEQUESTRATION
- The EFG office attended 2nd Follow-Up Committee meeting of the project
PSS-CSS (Policy Support System for Carbon Capture and Storage PSS-CSS).
This meeting took place on Friday 10 November in the Royal Flemish
Academy of Belgium for Science and The Arts.
The EFG office attended this meeting, where Kris Piessens contract
geologist in the project, and also member of the PE in Geothermal
Energy and CO2 Sequestration, was the chair person.
The meeting was focused on the following themes:
Introduction
* The PSS-CCS project: Progress report, Kris Piessens
* Transport of CO2 in Belgium, Veerle Vandeginste and Kris
Piessens, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. The topics
treated were mainly technicalities of the project as engineering
(diameter), cost calculation and route determination.
Session 1: Carbon Capture
* Inventory of national large sources of CO2; Construction,
content and role of the source inventory, Chris Hendriks, Ecofys.
* Capturing CO2 from industrial sources: current projects;
International overview of recent evolution and achivements in capture
projects, Philippe Mathieu, Ulg. Example projects were The Castor
project under FP6, Esbjerg (Denmark); and Shell/Statoil EOR/storage
project with expected operation at Tjeldbergodden (Norway), starting in
North Sea.
Session 2: Carbon Storage
* Storage options in Flanders: with specific attention to
aquifers, David Lagrou, VITO.
* Storage options in the Walloon Region, with specific attention
to coal deposits, Jean-Marc Baele, FPMs.
* Storing CO2 in coal: Enhanced Coal Bed Methane; Results from the
RECOPOL project and application to Belgian context. FPMs, Huges Legrain.
Overview of the main goals of the RECOPOL project as improvements in
knowledge of CO2/CH4 adsorption and desorption processes, the study of
the long term behaviour, establishment of co-operation on this topic in
Europe but also with USA and China.
More information about PSS-CSS project please visit:
www.naturalsciences.be/PSS-CCS
-EFG participated in the Geothermal workshop organized by the European
Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) 24 November 2006 in Brussels.
The goal of this workshop was to launch a debate to see if it could be
interesting for the Geothemal sector to have a technology platform.
The workshop aimed to show the conditions :
- Firstly : create a steering committee to write a vision report
2030
- Secondly : define a research agenda
- Thirdly : implement this agenda
A representative of the European Commission, DG Research, members of
EGEC and Engine Project made presentations.
EFG supports this platform on Geothertomal Energy:
- This platform could increase the Geothermal Energy Sector.
- EFG has included geothermal energy as an important item in its
Action plan, since the Geological profession is intimately linked with
it.
- Its geological experts in these fields have an important
capacity and knowledge to develop this renewable energy in Europe.
- The broad network of EFG and its promotion capabilities will be
able to improve the visibility and raise awareness of geothermal energy
as a relevant energy source.
The decision was taken to have another discussion during the Engine
mid-conference at Postdam 10-12/01/2007 and probably another meeting in
March-April 2007.The final decision will be taken at the EGC 2007,
29-31/05/2007.
4. JOB OPPORTUNITIES
-Contaminant Hydrogeologist
Offered by: Beresford Blake Thomas (Shropshire , West Midlands) UK
Reference: DH823
Date posted: 01 December 2006
Application deadline: 04 January 2007
Level of appointment: Consultant
Type of contract: Permanent
Responsibilities will include client management / business development,
significant technical inputs and delivery of projects with a groundwater
protection bias.
Experience: You are likely to have an MSc or PhD, with strengths in
projects of Contaminant Hydrogeology / Geochemical / Groundwater
protection nature. You will ideally have previous experience within
Hydrogeology including the scoping and overseeing of site investigation,
site conceptualization, quantitative risk assessment, report writing,
project / task management and working closely with clients to secure new
work. However, consideration may be given to candidates who possess a
strong academic background either at MSc or PhD level and have the
skills and knowledge required to undertake this role successfully.
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