Medium-term guidelines (ECSC) "Technical coal research", 1990-1994

Pursuant to Article 55 of the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the Commission is required to promote technical and economic research relating to the production and increased use of coal. Community financial assistance has been granted to this end since 1958 and medium-term guidelines have been laid down periodically since 1967. The funds for this aid are derived from levies imposed on the production of coal and steel as provided for in Article 49 of the ECSC Treaty. The 1990-1995 medium-term guidelines prepared in collaboration with the Coal Research Committee lay down the requirements for Community coal research with a view to concentrating efforts on projects of interest to the Community and to facilitating the choice of projects to be supported.

Coal research is related to Community R&D and demonstration programmes that deal with solid fuels: the non-nuclear energy research programme (EEC) which includes a chapter entitled "Use of solid fuels"; the steel research programme (ECSC) which concerns, inter alia, the use of metallurgical coke; the ECSC programmes on safety, health and ergonomic problems in the mining industry; and the EEC energy demonstration programme, of which the part related to solid fuels represents a logical extension of the ECSC coal research.
To reduce production costs in order to allow coal mining to be carried out under economically acceptable conditions; to concentrate R&D efforts on those projects which offer the best prospects for improvement of the technical and economic results of operations; to optimize colliery management by improved and more selective information technology; to optimize the processes of coal utilization and conversion; and to promote measures to ensure the clean utilization of coal.
Research fields:

- Mining engineering:
. Development work:
Shot firing and related problems, mechanized headings, modern technologies, support systems, shaft sinking and large hole boring;
. Mine gases, ventilation, climate:
Gas emission, ventilation, mine climate;
. Methods of working and techniques of coal winning:
Coal winning techniques in special conditions, coal face equipment, modern technologies, face-ends;
. Mine infrastructure:
Conveying of products, material transport, manriding, supply and disposal, modern technologies;
. Modern management:
Reconnaissance of deposits, planning of operations, control of operations, mine management, architecture of information systems;

- Product upgrading:
. Coal preparation:
Coal preparation, coal handling in residues;
. Metallurgical uses of coal:
Basic studies, conditioning of coal blends, development of coke ovens, by-products, new techniques for the production of cokes and briquettes from hard coal and lignite, direct use of coal in metallurgy;
. Combustion of coal:
Basic studies, environmental aspects, general amenity, development of new and improved combustion systems;
. Coal upgrading and conversion:
Physical and chemical fundamentals, gasification and liquefaction, new processes and products, environmental protection.
Financial assistance for individual research projects is granted by the Commission with the assent of the Council after consultation with the ECSC Consultative Committee made up of representatives of the coal and steel industry from each Member State. As a general rule the Commission contributes approximately 60% of the estimated total cost of financing the projects. All enterprises, research institutes and individuals wishing to engage in research relating to the fields outlined in the 1990-1995 medium-term guidelines for technical coal research are eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted before 1 September each year to be effective in the following year. The procedures to be followed in applying, the terms and conditions of aid as well as the obligations relating to the dissemination of research results are set forth in a Commission communication (Official Journal No C 159 of 24.6.1982).