The destruction of the region is not necessary because there is an alternative to natural gypsum. After the German Reunification the eastern German lignite-fired power plants were equipped with combustion gas desulphurisation plants. As lignite contains a los of sulphur, up to seven million tons of highly pure gypsum accumulate each year. This gypsum is even superior to natural gypsum, concerning the processing to building material or special gypsum types.
The amount of industrially produces gypsum is big enough to cover the entire gypsum demand. Although the industrial gypsum is already used in many places, the whole potential of this “waste product” has not been discovered and applied. The operators of the plants have to put one third of the gypsum on waste dumps.
Using the industrially produces gypsum would have two positive effects: The Southern Harz Gypsum Karst Region would be protected and employment in the gypsum industry would be safeguarded.
