When a mine ceases mining operations it can lead to significant social and economic impacts for the local region. Furthermore, maintaining the mine site, stationary systems, and equipment can be a financial burden for the management company. The Seeker, DTEK, is looking for novel ideas for the utilization and reuse of a mine site in order to create social and economic benefits for the local community in addition to offsetting continued maintenance costs.
This is an Ideation Challenge with a guaranteed award for at least one submitted solution.
Overview
Mining operations at different mine sites may have variable lifespans based on multiple factors such as the supply of coal and the financial viability of extracting it. While the mine is operating and extracting coal jobs and economic benefits for the local communities are plentiful but once a mine ceases its mining operations there can be significant social and economic consequences.
In addition, mining companies are typically required to maintain the mine site and the equipment at the site in working order and thus may incur significant costs after the mine closes. As a leading company in the energy sector, DTEK seeks to embrace novel ideas for transforming closed mine sites into engines of social and economic success in order to benefit local communities impacted by the closing of the mine, and to offset the cost of maintaining the site.
Source: InnoCentive
