Future after coal: Experience day in Borna about change and remembrance

Future after coal: Experience day in Borna about change and remembrance

On September 13, 2025, the experience day “What will the time after coal bring us?” will take place in the region around Borna, Saxony. instead of. Organized by DOKMitt e.V. in cooperation with renowned institutes such as the Leibniz Institute for Regional Studies and the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, the event aims to discuss the past and future of the region in the context of lignite. Leipziginfo reports.

The long history of brown coal mining in the region begins in the 19th century, when the first experimental drilling took place around 1850. The Borna-Ost opencast mine and the neighboring Bockwitz opencast mine in particular shaped the landscape. The Borna-Ost opencast mine was put into operation in 1960 and was active until 1985, while Bockwitz mined coal from 1982 to 1992. In total, around 109 million tons of coal were mined during this time. After the opencast mines were closed, natural refuges for flora and fauna emerged, such as the Bockwitzer See and the Harthsee. Wikipedia informs in detail about the history and geography of brown coal mining in the region.

Program and registration options

The experience day will include both morning and afternoon programs. In the morning, an excursion to the Öko-Station Borna-Birkenhain e.V. and a visit to the Bockwitz and Borna-Ost opencast mines in the Bockwitzer See nature reserve are on the agenda. Participants can also take part in the afternoon program at the Goldener Stern am Markt in Borna, where a storytelling café takes place. The change in energy and the future prospects of the region will be discussed there. Participants are given the opportunity to bring their own memorabilia or photos to share their personal stories.

The event begins at 10:00 a.m. at Borna train station, where the organizers of the excursion start with a bus. After a lunch snack in the Goldener Stern, the afternoon is enriched by impulses from research and story cafés. Participation is free of charge and also includes transport and meals.

Important details

Anyone interested is invited to register for the event by email or telephone by September 4, 2025. The event is intended to offer those involved the opportunity to exchange ideas with others about the history of lignite and its impact on the region and to discuss future developments together.

For more information please visit www.leibniz-lab-transformationen.de.