More about the exchange programme

Visit to North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany)

12-14 September 2023

Participating delegations led by:  Territory of Sustainable Development (Ukraine) and the municipality of Saerbeck as well as the Ruhr Regional Association (Germany).

Among other participants were representatives of: the Vuhledar and Myrnohrad communities, NGOs Dobro, Pravopolis, and Ecoaction, Energy Transition Coalition, Platform for Sustainable Development of Coal Towns, Ministry of Infrastructure, Independent Trade Union of Mineworkers (Ukraine).

Topics in focus:

• Just transition linked with post-war reconstruction and development
• Transition governance, incl. economic development planning
• Stakeholder engagement 
• Renewable energy projects linked with district planning, including district heating
• Mine closure, integrated brownfield development, new use of mining areas

Meetings with the: 

• District Steinfurt
• Municipalities of Ibbenbüren and Bochum 
• Münster University of Applied Sciences
• Mining company RAG
• Development agency Business Metropole Ruhr 
• Development companies Neue Zeche Westerholt and Bochum Perspektive
• Research institute Fraunhofer IEG 
• Bochum-Donetsk Society

Field visits to the:

• Bioenergy park Saerbeck
• Neue Zeche Westerholt neighbourhood (Gelsenkirchen and Herten)
• MARK 51°7 innovation district (Bochum)

Visit to Velenje (Slovenia) 

This in-person visit was the second one held as part of the exchange between the municipalities of Pljevlja and Velenje. Learn about the initial visit here.

19-21 September 2023

Participating delegations led by: the municipalities of Pljevlja (Montenegro) and Velenje (Slovenia).

Among other participants were representatives of: the Thermal Power Plant Pljevlja, Coal Mine Pljevlja, UNDP Montenegro, Union of Free Trade Unions (Montenegro).

Topics in focus:

• Transition planning at the local level
• Stakeholder engagement
• Energy efficiency
• Land rehabilitation and infrastructure repurposing

Meetings with the: 

• Utility company Velenje
• NewHeat company, presenting district heating networks solutions 
• Thermal power plant Šoštanj
• Coal mine Velenje
• Šaleška Valley Tourism Institute
• Business zone Stara Vas

Field visits to the:

• SAŠA incubator supporting regional start-ups and small entrepreneurs
• Coal mine Velenje, which serves both industrial operations and tourism
• “Future Center" for companies and institutions, planned in an old power plant building