SECTION 1 — Adoption of the Research Programme
Adoption
The Research Programme for the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Research Programme’) is hereby adopted.
The Research Programme shall support the competitiveness of the Community sectors related to the coal and steel industry. The Research Programme shall be consistent with the scientific, technological and political objectives of the Community, and shall complement the activities carried out in the Member States and within the existing Community research programmes, in particular the framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Research Framework Programme’).
Coordination, complementarity and synergy between these programmes shall be encouraged, as shall the exchange of information between projects financed under the Research Programme and those that are financed under the Research Framework Programme.
The Research Programme shall support research activities aimed at the objectives defined for coal in Section 3 and for steel in Section 4.
SECTION 2 — Definitions of coal and steel
Definitions
For the purposes of this Decision, the following definitions shall apply:
1.
coal shall mean any of the following:
(a)
hard coal, including the high and medium-ranking ‘A’ coals (sub-bituminous coals) as defined in the international codification system of coal of the UN Economic Commission for Europe;
(b)
hard coal briquette;
(c)
coke and semi-coke derived from hard coal;
(d)
lignite, including the low-ranking ‘C’ coals (or ortho-lignites) and the low-ranking ‘B’ coals (or meta-lignites) as defined in the above codification;
(e)
lignite briquettes;
(f)
coke and semi-coke derived from lignite;
(g)
oil shales;
2.
steel shall mean any of the following:
(a)
raw materials for iron and steel production, such as iron-ore, sponge iron and ferrous scrap;
(b)
pig iron (including hot metal) and ferro-alloys;
(c)
crude and semi-finished products of iron, ordinary steel or special steel (including products for reuse and re-rolling), such as liquid steel cast by continuous casting or otherwise, and semi-finished products such as blooms, billets, bars, slabs and strips;
(d)
hot-finished products of iron, ordinary steel or special steel (coated or uncoated products, excluding steel castings, forgings and powder metallurgy products), such as rails, sheet piling, structural shapes, bars, wire rods, plates and universal plates, strips and sheets, and tube rounds and squares;
(e)
end products of iron, ordinary steel or special steel (coated or uncoated), such as cold-rolled strips and sheets and electrical sheets;
(f)
products of the first-stage processing of steel that can enhance the competitive position of the above iron and steel products, such as tubular products, drawn and polished products, cold-rolled and cold-formed products.
SECTION 3 — Research objectives for coal
Improving the competitive position of Community coal
1. Research projects shall aim to reduce the total costs of mining production, improve the quality of the products and reduce the costs of using coal. Research projects shall encompass the entire coal production chain as follows:
(a)
modern techniques for surveying deposits;
(b)
integrated mine planning;
(c)
highly efficient, largely automated excavation and new and existing mining technologies corresponding to the geological characteristics of European hard coal deposits;
(d)
appropriate support technologies;
(e)
transport systems;
(f)
power supply services, communication and information, transmission, monitoring and process control systems;
(g)
coal preparation techniques, oriented to the needs of the consumer markets;
(h)
coal conversion;
(i)
coal combustion.
2. Research projects shall also aim to achieve scientific and technological progress with a view to gaining a better understanding of the behaviour and control of deposits in relation to rock pressure, gas emissions, the risk of explosion, ventilation and all other factors affecting mining operations. Research projects with these objectives shall present the prospect of results applicable in the short or medium term to a substantial part of Community production.
3. Preference shall be given to projects that promote at least one of the following:
(a)
integration of individual techniques in systems and methods and the development of integrated mining methods;
(b)
substantial reduction of production costs;
(c)
benefits in terms of mine safety and the environment.
Health and safety in mines
Issues concerning mine safety, including gas control, ventilation and air-conditioning with a view to improving underground working conditions and occupational health and safety as well as environmental issues shall also be taken into account in the projects covering the activities referred to in Article 4(1)(a) to (f).
Efficient protection of the environment and improvement of the use of coal as a clean energy source
1. Research projects shall seek to minimise the impact of mining operations and the use of coal in the Community on the atmosphere, water and the surface within the framework of an integrated management strategy with respect to pollution. As the Community coal industry is undergoing constant restructuring, the research shall also be geared towards minimising the environmental impact of underground mines destined for closure.
2. Preference shall be given to projects that envisage one or more of the following:
(a)
a reduction in emissions from coal utilisation, including capture and storage of CO 2 ;
(b)
a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, in particular methane, from coal deposits;
(c)
the return to the mine of mining waste, fly ash and desulphurisation products, accompanied, where relevant, by other forms of waste;
(d)
the refurbishment of waste heaps and the industrial use of residues from coal production and consumption;
(e)
the protection of water tables and the purification of mine drainage water;
(f)
a reduction in the environmental impact of installations which mainly use Community coal and lignite;
(g)
the protection of surface installations against the effects of subsidence in the short and long term.
Management of external dependence on energy supply
Research projects shall relate to the prospects for long-term energy supply and concern the upgrading, in economic, energy-related and environmental terms, of coal deposits which cannot be extracted economically by conventional mining techniques. Projects may include studies, the definition of strategies, fundamental and applied research and the testing of innovative techniques which offer prospects for the upgrading of Community coal resources.
Preference shall be given to projects integrating complementary techniques such as the adsorption of methane or carbon dioxide, coal bed methane extraction and underground coal gasification.
SECTION 4 — Research objectives for steel
New and improved steelmaking and finishing techniques
Research and technological development (RTD) shall aim to improve steel production processes with a view to enhancing product quality and increasing productivity. Reducing emissions, energy consumption and the environmental impact as well as enhancing the use of raw materials and the conservation of resources shall form an integral part of the improvements sought. Research projects shall address one or more of the following areas:
(a)
new and improved iron-ore reduction processes;
(b)
ironmaking processes and operations;
(c)
electric arc furnace processes;
(d)
steelmaking processes;
(e)
secondary metallurgy techniques;
(f)
continuous casting and near net shape-casting techniques with and without direct rolling;
(g)
rolling, finishing and coating techniques;
(h)
hot- and cold-rolling techniques, pickling and finishing processes;
(i)
process instrumentation, control and automation;
(j)
maintenance and reliability of production lines.
RTD and the utilisation of steel
RTD shall be undertaken in respect of the utilisation of steel to meet the future requirements of steel users and to create new market opportunities. Research projects shall address one or more of the following areas:
(a)
new steel grades for demanding applications;
(b)
steel properties addressing mechanical properties at low and high temperatures such as strength and toughness, fatigue, wear, creep, corrosion and resistance against fracture;
(c)
prolonging service life, in particular by improving the resistance of steels and steel structures to heat and corrosion;
(d)
steel-containing composites and sandwich structures;
(e)
predictive simulation models on microstructures and mechanical properties;
(f)
structural safety and design methods, in particular with regard to resistance to fire and earthquakes;
(g)
technologies relating to the forming, welding and joining of steel and other materials;
(h)
standardisation of testing and evaluation methods.
Conservation of resources and improvement of working conditions
In both steel production and steel utilisation, the conservation of resources, the preservation of the ecosystem and safety issues shall form an integral part of the RTD work. Research projects shall address one or more of the following areas:
(a)
techniques for recycling obsolete steel from various sources and classification of steel scrap;
(b)
steel grades and design of assembled structures to facilitate the easy recovery of steel scrap and its reconversion into usable steels;
(c)
control and protection of the environment in and around the workplace;
(d)
restoration of steelworks sites;
(e)
improvement of working conditions and quality of life in the workplace;
(f)
ergonomic methods;
(g)
occupational health and safety;
(h)
reduction of exposure to occupational emissions.
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
