Day 2 at Flotation '19

Another long day with 20 presentations in the two technical sessions, but as always, plenty of time to mingle with the exhibitors, and view the posters. 

The first coffee break started well for us when conference sponsor Metso agreed to sponsor our next conference in Cape Town, Comminution '20.

Pauline Choshane and Jon seal agreement on Metso's sponsorship of Comminution '20

Turkish company USK Kimya A.S. is one of the leading developers and manufacturers of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyanionic cellulose (PAC), specialising in development and production of different types of CMC and PAC. The company is represented at the conference by Belma Sonmez, who is pictured (centre) below talking to Romke Kuyvenhoven and Kari Heiskanen.

It's great to have six representatives from Katanga Mining Limited, which operates a large-scale copper-cobalt mine complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through two joint ventures, Kamoto Copper Company (KCC) and DRC Copper and Cobalt Project (DCP). The KCC joint venture produced its first copper cathode in December 2007. I was pleased to hear that one of the delegates, Andrew Molloy, has degree in mining geology and an MSc in mineral processing from Camborne School of Mines.

Also good to see Pavel Milenky and Yaarit Boker, from ICl Rotem Amfert, our first ever delegates from Israel at a flotation conference. ICL is a world leader in specialty fertilizers, bromine and flame retardants. It produces approximately a third of the world’s bromine, and is the world’s sixth largest potash producer, as well as one of its leading providers of pure phosphoric acid.

Yaarit and Pavel

Back in the exhibition I caught up with the Maelgwyn Mineral Services (MMS) team, who were talking to Martyn Hay of Eurus Mineral Consultants. MMS is a regular sponsor of MEI's flotation and comminution conferences and will be back in Cape Town next April for Comminution '20.

Martyn Hay (2nd right) with the MMS team

With around 290 delegates, the overflow room is proving to be popular, as always. Here delegates can hear and see the presentations which are live-streamed from the main conference room, and can move freely in and out of the room, and catch up with work with an ear to the presentations.

Despite Table Mountain being obscured by cloud all day, I think most delegates appreciated a break away from the conference atmosphere with a fine evening dinner and entertainment at the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

@barrywills