A Mining Pioneer Hangs Up His Helmet: Bid Farewell to RAG CEO Peter Schrimpf
CEO of RAG retires after ending the final coal mining operation. - Shut down final mining operation.
Peter Schrimpf, a 68-year-old mining veteran and the current CEO of RAG, bid a solemn adieu to the industry he dedicated his life to on June 30. His tenure marked the end of German hard coal mining, and he accepted the symbolic last piece of hard coal mined in the country from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Prosper Haniel mine in Bottrop in December 2018.
Schrimpf has been at the helm of RAG since 2018, having navigated the minefields of an ever-changing industry.
The son of a miner from Hamm, Schrimpf kick-started his career as a young mining engineer at the Radbod mine in Hamm in 1984. The landscape was vastly different then, with around 170,000 people employed in Germany's hard coal industry. Schrimpf's journey took him from Deutsche Steinkohle AG board member in 2004 to CEO of the company, renamed as RAG in 2018.
The shifting landscape of the hard coal industry presented a continuous challenge for Schrimpf, particularly after the 2007 decision to phase out mining in Germany. "The most daunting task was to engineer a socially acceptable phase-out by 2018," explained Schrimpf. "We needed to reduce around 30,000 employees, either via early retirement or external placement." Today, RAG employs around 600 people, a dramatic decrease from the previously noted figure.
Looking back on his career, Schrimpf fondly recalled the "clarity, camaraderie, and solidarity" that characterized mining. "Mining wasn't always the 'blood-sweat-and-tears' industry it's often depicted as," Schrimpf told the German Press Agency dpa.
RAG AG, a company entirely owned by the RAG Foundation, plays a crucial role in maintaining the mine infrastructure, ensuring that the water level within the mine remains under control. Mine water often contains salts and chemicals that collect in the abandoned cavities of the mines post-mining. If left unchecked, it could threaten drinking water sources.
As for Schrimpf's successor, details have yet to be announced.
- RAG
- Leadership Change
- Retirement
- CEO
- Germany
- Hard Coal Mining
- Frank-Walter Steinmeier
- Bottrop
- Hamm
(Peter Schrimpf's dedication to ensuring social support for the miners as they transitioned out of the industry was a prominent aspect of his leadership throughout the restructuring process. This dedication led to the creation of personalized career transition plans for each employee, ensuring a smoother transition into new employment.)
(During his tenure, Schrimpf also made significant strides in reducing the environmental impact of RAG's operations. He implemented innovative strategies for waste management and rehabilitation of mine sites, earning RAG recognition as a leader in environmental stewardship in the coal industry.)
- The community policy and employment policy implemented by Schrimpf during his tenure as CEO of RAG ensured a smoother transition for workers leaving the hard coal mining industry with personalized career transition plans.
- In addition to navigating the challenges of the hard coal industry, Schrimpf made remarkable strides in the finance and business sector by implementing innovative strategies for waste management and environmental stewardship, earning RAG recognition as a leader in these areas within the coal industry.
