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Medium-term guidelines (ECSC) "Technical coal research", 1986-1989

 
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 1986-1990 guidelines were consistent with the Community's energy research policies, one of the targets of which is to ensure that the Community's energy resources, and particularly its hard coal, are used in the most economical manner, thereby keeping its dependence on energy imports to a minimum. Related programmes were the ECSC programmes on safety in mining, industrial hygiene in mines, technical control of nuisances and pollution at the place of work, the technical steel research programme, the fifth programme on ergonomics for the steel and coal industries, the EEC programmes in the field of non-nuclear energy (including a subprogramme on the utilization of solid fuels) and the EEC programme of demonstration projects in the field of energy (with projects on solid fuel use).
To solve technical and economic problems faced by the Community's coal industry through the wide-scale application of scientific and technical results (mechanization, automation), the study and utilization of new methods, equipment and installations, and the improvement of existing processes, techniques and technologies for coal mining, upgrading and utilization.
Research fields:

- Mining engineering:
. Roadway drivage systems:
Shot firing and other excavation techniques, mechanical excavation techniques, modern technologies, roadway support, 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 particular conditions, coal face equipment, modern technologies, face ends;
. Mine infrastructures:
Conveying of products, material transport, man-riding, supply and disposal, modern technologies;
. Modern management:
Reconnaissance of deposits, planning of operations, control of operations, mine management, communications;

- Product upgrading:
. Preparation and transport of products:
Coal preparation, transport and handling of coal, residues;
. Coking of coal:
Basic studies, conditioning of the coal blend before charging, development of coke ovens, by-products and energy, new techniques for briquetting and production of cokes from hard coal and lignite, problems of environmental protection;
. Coal upgrading:
Physical-chemical bases, gasification and liquefaction, new processes and products, environmental protection.
Financial assistance for individual research projects was 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 contributed 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 1986-1990 medium-term guidelines for technical coal research were eligible to apply. Applications were to 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 were set forth in a Commission communication (Official Journal No C 159 of 24.6.1982).