The newly extended mine gas utilization plant at the Prosper Haniel mine commenced operation in April 2014. Up to then the plant, an investment by STEAG New Energies, had used the mine gas to generate electricity, but the extension also made heat generation possible. A further joint project by STEAG New Energies and the district heating company STEAG Fernwärme. The environmentally friendly heat is fed into the STEAG district heating network. Together with the excellent carbon footprint, the use of mine gas has a host of other advantages.