Comminution '14 provisional programme published

The Mining Hall of Fame's first comminution inductee, Prof. Alban Lynch, recently forecast that comminution would be the most important area for mineral processing this century, and there is no doubt that there is much interest and innovation taking place in this sector at the moment.

This is evident from the intense interest being shown in next April's Comminution '14, which has attracted a record number of 20 corporate sponsors and 3 media partners. Exhibition booths were sold out some time ago, and already delegates from worldwide are registering for the event.

The provisional timetable for the 4-day conference has now been published. This will evolve over the coming months, and all updates will be published on the conference website, and on Twitter (#Comminution14).

The conference will open with a keynote lecture from Alan Muir of AngloGold Ashanti, South Africa, who will discuss the evolution of comminution, focusing on the next "species" of comminution devices and indeed on a new paradigm where the actual comminution step is eliminated from the mining process.

The need to reduce energy consumption is one of the big drivers behind comminution research. In deciding whether there is any hope for significant improvement in comminution energy efficiency, a keynote lecture from Prof. Tim Napier-Munn, former Director of the JKMRC, will consider the key technical and cultural impediments to progress, and speculate on how the innovation process may yet provide the long-sought paradigm change. It is well known that comminution typically accounts for over 50% of a mine's energy consumption and  a  recent CEEC video suggests that comminution consumes 3% of the world's electrical energy, enough to power the whole of Germany!  With energy costs rising rapidly there is clearly a need to reduce energy consumption, and the conference will show how this might be achieved by innovations in grinding technology and circuits, and pre-concentration. Ultrafine grinding will play an increasing role in future circuits, and this will be put into perspective by our third keynote speaker, Dr. Wolfgang Peukert, of the University of Erlangen, Germany, in his lecture "a multiscale view on comminution".

All is set for an intensive week of technical presentations, but as with all MEI Conferences, there will be plenty of opportunities for networking, during the long coffee and lunch breaks in the exhibition area, and via the evening social events.

Those who are able to register on the evening before the conference can enjoy the welcoming function, with wine, beer, soft drinks and canapés in the exhibition area. On the Tuesday evening we will be taken into the centre of Cape Town for a night of good food, wine and entertainment at the Gold Restaurant in the city centre.

MEI Conference Delegates at the Gold Restaurant

'Happy hours' were very popular at last months Flotation '13, providing great opportunities for networking in the beautiful grounds of the Vineyard Hotel, and these will be held on the Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Accompanying partners will be very welcome to join us.

 

And there's more!  The guided walks have become a feature of all MEI Conferences, both in Falmouth and Cape Town. While those in Falmouth are relatively gentle strolls, those in Cape Town are more strenuous mountain hikes, requiring a degree of fitness.  Next April's hike will be one of Cape Town's most spectacular, to the top of Lion's Head, affording magnificent views of Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles:
 

A great week to look forward to, both technically and socially.