EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF SELECTED RISKS IN THE SOLUTION MINING INDUSTRY

Standard risk management systems are already researched on a pretty high level. Currently there is no special literature about those in the environment of solution mining of carnallite. These special risks (geological ones, risks arising in the processing plant due to its special design, financial risks) need to be addressed, evaluated and treated. DEUSA International GmbH is a potash mine situated in Thuringia / Germany, using the technology of hot selective solution mining of carnallite. Currently it is the only one in the world using this special process which is more and more going to be adopted in other projects around the world. One of the key issues is the energy intensiveness of the process. Purchase of natural gas currently ac-counts for approximately 60% of total costs. At first, this empirical case study will explore the existing risk management by documents study and by interviews, identify and evaluate selected risks and find approaches for treatment. It will be accompanied by a precursory literature review. Main goal is to contribute to improvement of the existing risk management system focusing on addressing the named special risks. The results should be useful for other carnallite solution mining projects as well.