Analysis of the Stability State of Jilț North Internal Dump in the Perspective of its Ecological Reconstruction

Abstract

Abstract The national policies, in agreement with the European ones, in the energy sector, more specifically regarding the elimination of fossil fuels from the energy mix, also mean the elimination by the year 2035 of production capacities based on lignite and its replacement with natural gas or renewable sources. In this context, the lignite open pits in the Oltenia mining basin are to be closed, or at best put into conservation. Regardless of which option is chosen, one of the most important obligations of the mining operator is related to the ecological reconstruction of the mining perimeters. Thus, in the present paper, we have proposed to analyze the technical condition of Jilț North internal waste dump to ensure that the absolutely necessary stability conditions are met, before starting any type of actual ecological reconstruction works. For this purpose, the stability analyzes performed for the designed geometry of the dump at the end of productive activities are presented and a series of recommendations are made: to ensure the physical conditions necessary in the ecological reconstruction stage; regarding the choice of the type of ecological reconstruction; respectively the choice of species to ensure the success of the ecological reconstruction effort.