One of the oldest mining universities in the world is interested in cooperation with Kazakhstan
BRATISLAVA, August 18, 2020 – There is a big scope of cooperation between Slovakia and Kazakhstan in the field of geology, mining and processing of minerals. The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Slovakia Roman Vassilenko and Dean of the Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Management and Geotechnology of the Technical University in Kosice Michal Cehlár and former State Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sports of Slovakia Olga Nachtmannova discussed the prospects for such cooperation today.
For reference: The Technical University in Kosice was founded in 1952, however, its roots can be tracked deeper into the history. In 1657, “Universitas Cassoviensis” opens in the city of Kosice, to receive later in 1762 the status of a university, when Austro-Hungarian Empress Maria Theresia founded the Mining Academy in the city of Banska Stiavnica. It contributed to the advancement of education and research in a whole range of disciplines, from ore mining to the manufacture and processing of metallic materials. The development of technical higher education in the city of Kosice continued until 1937, when, following the Law No. 170 of the Czechoslovak Republic, was established the State Technical University named after Dr. Milan Rastislav Štefanik in Kosice.
The Slovak university is interested in the development of both scientific and educational, and commercial cooperation with Kazakh partners through academic and technological exchange. The university offers double degree programs and participation in advanced research projects funded by the European Union grant programs (about 8 million euros per year).
According to M. Cehlár and the prominent geologist Yurai Janočko who took part in the meeting, the most breakthrough research projects of the faculty include researches in the areas of lithium management (mining, production of lithium-ion batteries), hydrogen energy (underground storage of hydrogen for use as huge energy storage), thermal drilling using oxygen and hydrogen.
The latest development, which has been in the works for the past 15 years, is particularly interesting for our resource rich country as it can reduce the cost of underground drilling by more than 60% compared to conventional mechanical drilling. The patented innovative rig works on the principle of high-temperature drilling (over 2000 °C) at a high pressure of over 200 atmospheres. The rig is also equipped with high-tech sensors and artificial intelligence to analyze the composition of the soil during drilling and identify the possible presence of combustible minerals, which increases the safety of the entire process.
During the meeting, the parties reached an agreement on the continuation of close cooperation and outlined its initial directions.