The Scientific Congress, the Innovation Hub and the presentations in the exhibition area address energy transition, sustainable mining and safety in industry
Seville, 16th October 2024.- Innovation and sustainability have been the focus of the interventions of the Scientific Congress and the Innovation Hub during the second day of the Mining and Minerals Hall, the International Mining Exhibition that Seville is holding until tomorrow, Thursday. Organised by the Association of Research, Extraction, Mining-Metallurgical, Auxiliary and Service Companies (AMINER, by its initials in Spanish) and the Palace of Congresses and Exhibitions of Seville (Fibes), the event shows these days the reality of mining at a crucial time for this industry, essential for the transition to clean energy and the fight against climate change.
The second day of the Scientific Congress started with a lecture by Rob Scargill, entitled ‘The future of mining, exploration, innovation and inclusion’, which continued with round tables on ‘Energy transition’ and ‘Sustainable mining’, with the participation of companies such as Sandvick, Atalaya Mining and SveMin and representatives of entities and institutions such as the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge and the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines of the Regional Government of Andalusia.
The presentations addressed different technological innovations, such as Sandfire MATSA’s automation systems for underground mining operations; this talk coincided with a demonstration of remote work in which a driller operated Mina Magdalena machinery from the mining company’s stand at the MMH. Similarly, the Sandvick exhibitor showed a high-tech simulator that allows to virtually experience the driving of industrial machinery, specifically the Toro LH517i and LH621i ranges, which during the three days of MMH 2024 are exhibited outside Fibes.
The presentations at the Scientific Congress also addressed tools such as the creation of digital twins of the mines to manage safety; and the sustainable integrated water management system at Cobre Las Cruces was presented. In other areas, aspects related to the application of the Green Pact or the application of the EU’s Basic Raw Materials Law were discussed.
For its part, the Innovation Hub, a new feature of this edition of the MMH dedicated to technological challenges, will hold this afternoon talks such as ‘Innovative solutions for the treatment and recovery of resources from acid mine water’, ‘Driving mining innovation: the role of youth and startups’ or ‘Raw materials innovation: from sky to soil’.
These presentations are complemented by the information that can be consulted in the 6,432 metres of exhibition area at MMH 2024, which this year has 257 stands, including those of the main mining-metallurgical companies, such as Atalaya Mining, Sandfire MATSA, Cobre Las Cruces, Atlantic Copper, Minera Los Frailes, Tharsis Mining, Alto Minerals, Minas de Estaño, Pan Global Resources, Calgovsa or Minas de Alquife; and auxiliary and engineering, renewable or service companies such as ABB, Insersa, Mecwide, Subterra, Liebherr Ibérica, Metso, Maxam, Orica, Sandvik or Finanzauto.
In addition, the day has also hosted the presentation of the 1st National Mining and Life Awards, granted by the Fundación Minería y Vida (FMYV) to recognise the work of 23 representatives of companies, entities and administrations that stand out for their work in aspects such as environmental and social management, their contribution of added value to society, communication, leadership or innovation.
For its part, the exhibitor of the Regional Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines presented its mining restoration plan, that is, the rehabilitation of areas affected by former mining operations, abandoned or disused, which the Regional Government is carrying out to recover these lands. The mining right tenders called this year to explore new deposits in the region were also presented.
International meeting
Within the framework of the MMH 2024, the accredited international press held a sectorial meeting organised by Andalucía TRADE with the participation of the organisation of the meeting, representatives of the administration and mining companies. The moment of growth that the sector is experiencing due to the increase in demand for minerals has been presented. Minerals are essential for the digitisation and the transition to green energy, and the need to reduce dependence on third countries and boost production and processing in European territory. All this while maintaining the high standards of innovation, sustainability, safety and health and environmental care that characterise the mining of the 21st that these days shows the MMH.
The meeting, which is being held under the slogan ‘MMH 2024: Meeting point towards a sustainable future’, will end tomorrow with the awards ceremony and the official closing of the event.
About MMH
The International Mining Exhibition is an exceptional showcase for the sector’s innovations, projects and technological advances, complemented by a Scientific Congress of professionals and experts to address the great challenges of the future in the field of mineral raw materials, in addition to the Innovation Hub and an outreach area dedicated to students and families, which has already been visited by numerous school and university groups.
