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Conference Overview
As our mining businesses emerge from the trough in the global commodity cycle, we face increased community and media scrutiny in tackling the ongoing challenge of maintaining the triple bottom line. These social, environmental and economic pillars are critical to the mining industry’s “licence to operate”. Mining activities are expected to be more than financially and technically sound – they must also balance and embrace the evolving needs of the environment and community. These issues are increasingly impacting the mineral resource industry and its ability to deliver sustainable current and future mining.
Sustainable Mining – The Business Case, will provide attendees in the exploration, mining and minerals processing industries with practical knowledge to improve their everyday decision making and long term planning choices. The Conference will address a broad range of issues and showcase relevant case studies – on operational challenges, securing water, power and transport infrastructure, managing carbon emissions, community consultation and meeting best practice standards.
Mining companies can both exceed community expectations and maintain or improve their mine life and company outlook. Cooperation is pivotal at every stage – to plan, evaluate, operate and conclude mining operations. A continuous cycle of new projects and a commitment to excellence in sustainable development are key in ensuring value is added to the mining business, community and environment – regionally and globally.
The Kalgoorlie region is a brilliant example of long-term cooperative development between mining and the region – still going strong after 117+ years, despite numerous challenges from climate, remoteness, scarce infrastructure, human and financial resources, social and environmental impacts, economic trends and events. The ’Goldfields’ exhibits mining diversity in gold, nickel and base metals, and has potential for new energy sources through uranium, hydrocarbons and renewables. Challenges and successes in sustainable mining are demonstrated from the lessons in the Goldfields, Australia and our global mining communities.
The Conference program will include a strong local focus, offering delegates firsthand experience of how projects and operations deal with mining in close proximity to and below a regional city, and how regional infrastructure can assist with project security and community survival through challenging times. The conference will also show how cooperation and a concerted effort are required from industry, government and community to develop a successful approach to achieve sustainability. Decision making needs to balance stakeholder interests to ensure win-win outcomes.
This is more than a technical conference. Sustainable Mining 2010 includes:
- Mine tours at Australia’s largest gold and nickel mines
- A program of professional development and practical technical tools on sustainable mining
- A technical tour on water management practices and treatment/re-use facilities
- Information and training workshops on key topics for professionals and managers such as water, energy, greenhouse gas and community relations
- A field trip on the region’s mineral deposits and the geology of the Archaean
- Solutions for regional partnerships between mining companies, local businesses and government
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