PREMOGOVNIK VELENJE (Velenje coal mine)
Core business: lignite mining.

Other business activities: project engineering of underground (mining) structures and open cuts (mining, mechanical and electrical aspects), construction of underground structures of all types, drilling and boring, geo−mechanical surveying and research, pit measuring hydrogeological and technological services.

In 1998, Premogovnik Velenje acquired the ISO 9001 quality certificate, which was followed by the ISO 14001 environmental management certificate in 2000. Coal−mining as a business requires a great deal of commitment, expertise and sensitivity to people and to nature. It is all about tradition, loyalty, solidarity and taking responsibility for self and others. The year 2000 marks the 125th anniversary of the main lignite layer being drilled for the first time ¿ the turning point  for the entire ¿ale¿ka dolina valley. It signified income for numerous generations, it signified progress, but it also changed the landscape of the once fertile valley. Premogovnik Velenje coal−mine company was established in 1875. Today, Premogovnik Velenje employs more than 2390 qualified staff who continue the tradition of the highly responsible and professional work using the state−of−the−art technology to mine lignite in one of the safest and best equipped coal−mines in Europe. Every year, depending on the government power generation plans, about 4 million tons of lignite are brought to the surface from the bowels of the Velenje coal−mine. Most of the coal is used for power generation by the ¿o¿tanj power plant, thus providing for one third of the annual power requirements in Slovenia. Difficult mining and geological conditions prevalent in the Velenje coal−mine prevented the miners from applying the existing European excavation methods in the 1960s when the mechanisation was being progressively introduced into the mine. Consequently, the mining engineers at Velenje had to develop their own method, known as »Velenje Longwall Method« in the mining circles all over the world today. For the purpose of employing the method, hi−tech hydraulic support needed to be modified as well. Key factors of occupational safety in the mine also include a remotely controlled telemetry system and well−trained rescue teams. In addition to its core business ¿ coal−mining ¿ Premogovnik Velenje is also engaged in various activities in the field of geo−technology: project engineering of underground (mining) structures and open cuts (mining, mechanical and electrical aspects), construction of underground structures of all types, geo−mechanical surveying and research, and management of the spatial database. Premogovnik Velenje is also a research organisation and is working very closely with various university− and other research bodies. The technological process of coal−mining at Velenje complies with the ISO 9001 standard requirements; the certificate was obtained in 1998. In 2000, the company's efforts in the management of the quality process were rewarded with the ISO 14001 environmental management certificate. Accountable, caring and controlled management of the environment is an integral part of the company's strategic goals.

PREMOGOVNIK VELENJE will be one of the Slovenian implemention and testing partners in co−operation with the Solski Centre Velenje. It will particpate in the projects regional workshops and feedback loops.