THE CHAMBER OF ECONOMY OF TUZLA CANTON BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS OF RESEARCH IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH CAUSED BY MINING ACTIVITIES IN TUZLA CANTON

Nurudin uni, B. Sc. el . Secretary for energy, mining and industry Email:zunic@kpktz.ba Tel:+38761142100
Mart 2011

ABOUT TUZLA CANTON

The area of the canton is 2,908 km. It is placed in the north-eastern part of B&H territory and 10,5% of the Federation B&H. Tuzla Canton includes 13 Municipalities. There are about 500 000 inhabitants in the Canton. Tree coal mines provide approximately 5 millions of tons for needs of power plant Tuzla, and also for industry, export and population consume. Great capacity for power production (790 MW), coke production (1.400.000 t), sodium production (approx. 300.000 t), salt production (approx. 200.000 t), polyurethane production, detergent production...

Source:Radiometer (ASTER) on NASAs Terra satellite from September 21, 2003

This is the area with very reach mining tradition. For example; over 220 million tons of coal and over 30 million tons of salt was dug out last 120 years. Regarding to reserve estimates this could be continued.

The power plant Tuzla (800 MW) to the 2007 year was produce over 100 bilion kWh, and for this burn about 100 milion tons, wherein is rest over 25 milion tons fly ash and slag and spend over 250 milion cubic metre of water. Irrational economical development and suboptimal investing policy in exercise of coal and salt has resulted with economical destruction and deformation of terrain caused by sinking ( estimated damage over 500 milion euros) as well as air pollution and devastatio surface of land as a implicationas of mining and wafter pollution in Modrac Lake which is very big and difficult problem .

CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS OF RESEARCH IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH CAUSED BY MINING ACTIVITIES IN TUZLA CANTON

Geological urban base of Tuzla and surrounding area is not the only example of significant amount of natural recourses and ecological problems in the world but it is an example of irrational economical development and unplanned managing of natural recourses in pre transitional era. The main goal of this study is to present and analyze consequences of previous inefficient economic and mining activities. Defining and establishing new strategies in local development we must consider European economical and ecological standards and principles of sustainable development. Good example of uncontrolled development is enormous diseconomy in salt production in Tuzla. Municipality of Tuzla has 303 square kilometers with over 180000 residents. Economical recourses, especially energetic and chemical capacities, schools, university, health care, culture, physical culture, sports and other thins make Tuzla center of this region (region with over one million people).

 Devastatio surface of land as a implicationas of mining

Water pollution, contamination of water in lake Modrac as a implication of mining

Verity of natural recourses (coal, salt etc.) as well as specific nature of this area created good environment for settlements and the economy. Developing industry of minerals and explanation of regenerative natural sources is degrading the environment. For example; the 790 MW power plants that is using low quality coal was built on the outskirts of the city and it is dangerous air polluter. However extensive extraction of salt using the primitive technologies is main ecological problem of modern Tuzla. This extraction, based on "cowboy economy" trough the time, have created degrading of environment by sinking of terrain causing big damage on the buildings in urban area. Intensity of salt extraction was increasing, especially during 1960es when Tuzla was supplying over 70% of former Yugoslavia markets with salt. Big salt alkali capacity was built in Tuzla using the salt alkali solution. According to estimates over 30 million tons of salt was extradited around 80% of which was done using primitive and uncontrolled ways of exploitation. This means that extraction was taking place not paying attention to quantity or size and characteristic of the holes. As a result we have instability of top layer which influences predisposition for development of salt-chemical capacities and existence of the city.

Increasing intensity of extraction of salt have caused uncontrolled sinking and degrading of terrain even in central part of the city destroying large number of apartment, medical and other buildings and forcing around 15000 people to move into other parts of the city. Effected area is about 5 square kilometers in the central part of the city. The most effected part is old part of city which has sunk for about 12 meters from 1914 to 1986. The most annual registered sinking was 1,1 meter. Evidence shows significant correlation between extraction and sinking.
At the beginning of 1990es the main strategic courses of handling of salt-mineral sources in Tuzla were defined and resulted with decision to suspend irrational production of salt and start synchronic investments in more efficient economical capacities in salt mine Tetima.

During the research experts estimates of total expenses caused by sinking of terrain in Tuzla according to data from specialized institution would have to have these elements: as a cause of devastation of terrain 2300 apartments were thorn down by 1990es 67000 square meters of industrial buildings, over 130 000 square meters of educational, medical, and cultural buildings were also thorn down. Another 2000 apartment buildings and over 22 000 square meters of others buildings need to be thorn down. Previous geodetic estimates used "zero line" that is now unknown as well as spreading of sinking. Estimated damage, by government commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina is around 500 million euros and only small portion of it has been paid off to Tuzla municipality.

Between 1963rd - 2006. in TPP "Tuzla" has produced over 100 billion kWh of electricity, for which he spent over 100 million tons of coal. Environmental load of solid waste, for this period, the municipality of Tuzla and the Tuzla Canton is the following: dump slag and ash, about 25 million tons (more than 40 million m3), industrial water consumption for the transport of these quantities of slag and ash more than 250 million m3, area of more than 4000 ha of devastated abandoned surface mines 30 million tons of suspended particles in the lake (due to technology, coal washing)

IMPACT ON Safety and Health

In Bosnia and Herzegovina from the 1902nd to 1986. year there were 59 incidents of inflammation and explosion of methane and 430 deaths from injuries which occurred in 11 major accidents killed 414 miners.
In the first 60 years of mine, since 1885. until 1945, the Kreka in Tuzla was recorded 604 deaths and 79 serious injuries. The first serious injury occurred and the first death 1887.godine 1890.godine the excavation. Severe injury from inflammation of methane were already in 1896.godini, and death only in 1923. Severe injuries in handling explosives occurred 1906 and 1943 the first death. Violations of electricity began since 1913, and since 1911 the fire gases (CO).

In the first 60 years of mining activities and the actual production of 14.147.117 tons of coal, there was a violation of 5.7 deaths per million tons of coal produced. In the next 40 years it happened 2013 serious injuries and 208 deaths.

Most fatal injuries (74 or 35.6%) occurred in the open pit and transport (42 or 20.2%).
In the period since 1945. until 1985. The 208 deaths happened in violation 158,439,000.00 tons of coal produced, which is 1.3 fatal injuries million tons. The 115th anniversary of the mines with extremely tragic consequences of the 26th August 1990 in the coal mine "Dobrnja in marble in the explosion, which is the most likely cause of inflammation of coal dust, life has lost 180 miners.

While analysing the number of accidents in past 15 years according to workplaces the analysis shows that the largest number of injuries happened to direct handlers of mining equipment and diggers, to maintenance workers.They were mostly mechanical injuries caused by impacts of various objects. Looking at the sources of injuries, the largest number occurred on machinery with 44% of cases, then tools with 12.5%, poor stairways and walkways, electric shock, falls from heights, etc. The most common cause of injuries is careless work or lack of attention in 35% cases, disobeying prescribed occupational health and safety measures in over 30% cases, then malfunction of machinery and tools in 13% of cases, poor organisation and attitude towards work in 5% of cases, uncontrolled lift of weight in 2% of cases, slippery surfaces in 3% of cases and 12% in other cases. Most injuries occur to extremities: arms and legs with 64%, head with 16%, eyes 5%, back 3%, while 9% of workers suffered multiple injuries.

Looking at the qualification and education structure of workers, most Frequently injuries happen to: qualified workers with 46% of cases, highly qualified workers with 31%, workers with secondary school education with 13% of cases, nonqualified workers and semi-qualified workers in 9% of cases, and workers with higher education and university degrees in 1% of cases. The highest number of injuries occurred to workers aged from 46 to 55 years 51%, then age from 36 to 45 22%, and age 26 to 35 18%. When we look at work shifts, 70% of injuries happened in the 1st, 20% in 2nd and 10% in the 3rd shift. This is so because most workers work in the 1st shift when most important activities are conducted. Looking at the years of service, most injuries occur to workers with over 20 years of service. Comparing time intervals, it is obvious that most injuries happened in the 1st and 2nd hour of work 30%, and 6th and 7th hour 25%. While looking at days of the week, most injuries occurred on Tuesdays and Fridays. We can also notice that most injuries happen in the 2nd and 3rd quarter.