Process Mineralogy '24- back in Cape Town!

MEI's Process Mineralogy conference series will be back in Cape Town next year, after a pause due to the pandemic and Process Mineralogy '22 being held in Spain due to South African Covid restrictions.

The Vineyard Hotel conference centre

It will be good to get back to the Vineyard Hotel for Process Mineralogy '24, which will be held back to back with a new MEI Conference, Critical Minerals '24. As always the conference will be organised by MEI in consultation with Prof. Megan Becker of the University of Cape Town and we also welcome as an advisor Prof. Alan Butcher of the Geological Survey of Finland.

Alan Butcher and Megan Becker at Process Mineralogy '18

The exhibition area at Process Mineralogy '18

It is pleasing to see the early response to the move back to Cape Town, with four companies already on board as sponsors, Zeiss, Capstone Copper, Promet 101 and AECI Mining Chemicals. Our media partners are International Mining and Minerals Engineering, and our Industry Advocate is the Critical Minerals Association.

Zeiss is one of our most prolific sponsors. Process Mineralogy '24 will be our 7th conference in the series, starting way back in 2012 and Zeiss, a world leader in automated mineralogy, has sponsored all of these and many other MEI Conferences.

Zeiss at Process Mineralogy '18

Promet101 has also become a prolific sponsor. Founded by CEO Stuart Saich, Promet 101 is an international company, headquartered in Australia, with offices in Canada and Chile, whose objectives are to provide sound solutions to clients' requirements and ensure that a well-documented path from ore definition, metallurgical testing programs through to process design criteria is provided for subsequent scrutiny by third parties such as engineering entities engaged to complete detail designs or peer reviews for project financing.

Stuart said "So why does a small company like ours continue to support MEI through good and tough times. Well if you think carefully about it, how much effort is put into developing a technical paper. 100 or 200 hours per paper? Then what about the costs involved? By supporting MEI you are supporting a platform for the advancement of our own industry by willing individuals to advance the scientific knowledge of the very industry we belong to. What is the inherent intellectual value or investment into the knowledge base of each conference at which say 100 technical papers are presented? I would say $1-2 million a piece. And from that investment springs further value growth as ideas advance and commercialisation grows. Why do we invest in supporting MEI every year, because it makes absolute sense! It is not about me, it is about our industry!"

Stuart Saich with Jon Wills at Flotation '19

Capstone Copper, which has a portfolio of long-life copper operations in Canada, USA, Mexico and Chile, is a great MEI supporter and will be sponsoring all six of MEI's upcoming conferences. Senior Vice-President Peter Amelunxen said "We believe in giving back to the industry that has supported our growth, and the MEI conferences serve as a platform for experts, researchers, and industry professionals to share their technical knowledge and insights, fostering collaboration and innovation within the minerals engineering sector. By supporting these high-quality conferences, we actively participate in the advancement of the field, establish or enhance strategic partnerships, and contribute to the industry’s overall success.  We are a proud MEI supporter".

AECI Mining Chemicals is a regular sponsor of MEI's flotation conference, and we welcome them as a first time sponsor of the Process Mineralogy series. AECI is a diversified group of 16 companies with regional and international businesses in Africa, Europe, South East Asia, North America, South America and Australia. Shani Engelbrecht of AECI Mining, South Africa said "A big shout-out to MEI Conferences for creating such a stimulating environment! It (Flotation '23) has been a truly enriching experience and I left with my mind challenged, and heart full". 

AECI at Flotation '23

Process Mineralogy '24 looks like being a great event, as was Process Mineralogy '18 in Cape Town, so we now look forward to quality papers, and invite you to submit abstracts via the portal on the website.

#ProcessMineralogy24