Memories of International Mineral Processing Congress 2006, Istanbul

In just over five weeks time the 32nd International Mineral Processing Congress will be held in Cape Town. The 23rd IMPC was held in Istanbul, Türkiye 20 years ago this month, from 3-8 September 2006. The location was particularly appropriate because Türkiye has a substantial and diverse mineral processing industry, including chromite, copper, lead-zinc, gold, borates, coal and iron. 

Bolstered by a huge Turkish contingent, the IMPC attracted over 900 delegates, then a record number (there were 751 at the last IMPC in USA). The conference included a strong body of research from Turkish universities and mining researchers, alongside international contributions and there were 453 presentations from 46 countries.

Three very memorable social events were held at the magnificent Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi Palaces, the former being in the European sector of Istanbul, the latter across the Bosporus in Asia, and the farewell dinner was held at the end of the penultimate day of the conference, a magnificent affair rivalling the memorable ‘African Night’ at the previous Cape Town IMPC. In the splendid open air setting of Buyuk Klup, on the Asian side of the Bosporus, we were entertained, over an excellent 4-course meal, to live Turkish music, folk-dancing, and belly-dancing. There was a formal aspect to the evening as well, with final speeches from the organisers, and the lifetime achievement award to Prof. Heinrich Schubert. of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany.

Jon and I represented MEI, as a media partner, and some of our photos are shown below. There are many familiar faces, some sadly no longer with us, including the conference chairman, Prof. Güven Önal.

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