Frank Schippers, RWE Power, International mining activities, Stüttgenweg 2, 50935 Cologne, frank.schippers@rwe.com Bio: Worked for RWE Power/Rheinbraun for 27 years in different positions in Germany and the US. Presently head of RWE Power international mining activities. Has studied Mining engineering at RWTH Aachen for surface and underground mines. Lives in Korschenbroich near Düsseldorf in Germany with wife and three children. Other interest are in Nature, Africa, hunting, and reading.

Summary: Coal and coal based power generation have an important role in the countries of the EU. Despite global growth in coal production, coal in the EU is facing strong opposition and growing concerns about higher specific CO2 emissions. Despite headwind and the preference for renewables, coal will be needed in the years to come. For this, it is very important, to develop our coal reserves in a sustainable way. Mining and power generation have to secure public acceptance by adherence of high environmental standards. Cost effectiveness of these operations is a precondition. The implementation of more and more wind and photovoltaic power into our energy portfolios creates further challenges for the fossil fuels as coal based operations have to find ways to accommodate new technologies to turn base load producers into highly flexible energy providers.

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