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Upcoming SAIMM events
- SAIMM PYROMETALLURGY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2026
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- Background
- Submit an Abstract
- Registration Fees
- Who Should Attend
- Sponsorship and Exhibition
- Contact
- Workshops
- technical visits
- Accommodation
- Background
- Submit an Abstract
- Registration Fees
- Who Should Attend
- Sponsorship and Exhibition
- Contact
- Workshops
- technical visits
- Accommodation
Background
The South African metallurgical industry is facing significant obstacles: Rising production costs, the closure of key service providers like refractory suppliers, and increasing pressure globally for the industry to transform. To face these challenges, it is important for different areas of the industry to work together.
The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) invites you to the 2026 Pyrometallurgy International Conference, taking place from 25 to 29 May 2026. The conference will bring together professionals and experts from the fields of pyrometallurgy, furnace tapping, and refractories under the theme: Foundations of Competitiveness and Sustainability. This theme challenges us to collaborate in finding answers to the difficult questions we are faced with and to develop sustainable solutions to safeguard the future of our industry. We are confident that through collaborative research, innovative technology development and operational excellence, we can transform the industry and secure a greener future for the next generation of pyrometallurgists.
By integrating these three key focus areas, we aim to create a platform for strategic thinkers, policymakers, researchers, and economic influencers to share insights, challenge assumptions, and collaborate on practical solutions for the future of the industry.
Submit an Abstract
Abstract submissions are now open!
The SAIMM Pyrometallurgy International Conference Organising Committee is inviting you to submit an abstract for presentation at the 2026 Conference
Why submit an abstract?
- Strengthen your professional reputation.
- Showcase your organisation’s achievements and accomplishments.
- Offer the industry valuable insights, case studies, and expertise.
- Inform stakeholders, including colleagues and researchers, about your accomplishments and progress.
- Create new opportunities for collaboration to benefit the industry.
Submission process
Abstracts will be subject to peer review, the committee will decide whether to accept or decline the submissions. Relevance to the conference theme, accuracy and uniqueness of ideas, contribution significance, and presentation quality are among the selection factors. Download abstract submission template
Please note
- All accepted abstracts will be published in the conference proceedings and presented during technical sessions.
- All presenting authors are required to register and pay for conference attendance prior to publication in the conference proceedings.
Key Dates
- Abstract submission deadline - 17 October 2025
- Paper submission deadline - 09 February 2026
- Workshops - 25 May 2026
- Conference - 26-28 May 2026
- Technical visits - 29 May 2026
Registration Fees
All prices quoted are exclusive of VAT
Who Should Attend
- Professionals and researchers focused on pyrometallurgy, furnace tapping and refractories
- Industry leaders
- Academics
- Students
Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
E-mail: gugu@saimm.co.za
Tel: +27 11 530 0238
Web: www.saimm.co.za
Workshops
WORKSHOP 1:
Future of Pyrometallurgy in South Africa (PyroFuZA)
Date: 25 May 2026
Venue: CSIR International Convention Centre
The “Future of Pyrometallurgy in South Africa” (PyroFuZA) workshop on 25 May 2026, is scheduled as part of the SAIMM Pyrometallurgy International Conference 2026.
The South African metallurgical industry is facing significant obstacles: Rising production costs, the closure of key service providers like refractory suppliers, and increasing pressure globally for the industry to transform.
This full-day workshop will bring together senior representatives from industry, government, and academia to objectively assess the current state and future prospects of the pyrometallurgical industry in South Africa.
The workshop will focus on key questions such as defining success for the industry in the current economic climate, requirements for long-term sustainability, and identifying major actions for the next 20 years. It will be facilitated by an experienced industry expert and limited to 30-40 high-profile participants to foster open dialogue.
WORKSHOP 2:
Advanced refractory materials and their role in furnace integrity and furnace containment
Registration Fess
Member - R4 200
Non-Member -R5 000
Student - R850
technical visits
Pyro Week Technical visit to Valterra Platinum
Valterra Platinum is a leading global PGM producer. Waterval Smelter is one of Valterra Platinum’s primary smelting sites and is based in Rustenburg in the Northwest Province of South Africa. The Waterval site team operate two 34MW primary furnaces to smelt various PGM concentrates to produce primary furnace matte. In addition, converter slag is smelted in a 23MW slag cleaning furnace. The matte produced is further processed at the adjacent Converting Process. The operation also comprises supporting
Waterval Smelter
Geographical Coordinates 25.669°S, 27.323°E. It is located approximately 100-110 km West-Northwest of the CSIR
campus in Pretoria.
Site intake: • 15 to 20 delegates
PPE requirements:
- Recommend people bring safety boots
NB: Additional information:
- We will unfortunately not able to host delegates with medical conditions such as asthma, epilepsy or pacemakers
Duration of the technical visit:
- 60min for brief site visitors induction, introductions and plant overview presentation, 60min site visit, 60min for discussion and finger lunch
Registration price: R810.00p.p return
Pyro Week Technical visit to Impala Platinum
Impala Platinum’s Rustenburg operation is one of the world’s largest and most advanced platinum-group-metals (PGM) producers. Located in Rustenburg, the site comprises a nine-shaft mining complex together with concentrators and a fully integrated smelter.
Merensky and UG2 ores are processed separately at dedicated concentrator plants. The smelter treats concentrate from both streams, while also offering toll smelting services managed through Impala Refining Services (IRS). The Smelter flowsheet consists of a drying section (Dewatering circuit, Niro-spray dryers and Flash dryers), three six-in-line furnaces, six converters and a bespoke off-gas treatment section. The resulting matte is transported to the company’s Base Metal Refinery (BMR) and Precious Metal Refinery (PMR) in Springs for final refining.
- Address: Impala Platinum, Rustenburg, North West Province, South Africa
- Approximate Coordinates: 25°46'30"S 27°19'00"E.
PPE REQUIREMENTS
All visitors entering the smelter must wear:
- Hard hat (head protection)
- Full overalls – heat-resistant overalls for the furnaces & converters, and acid-resistant overalls for the acid plant
- Safety boots
- Non-expired respirator (filter mask)
- Ear plugs
Registration price: R880.00p.p return
Pyro Week Technical visit to Mintek
About Mintek
The Council for Minerals Technology (Mintek) is South Africa’s national mineral research organisation specialising in mineral processing, extractive metallurgy and related areas. With over 90 years of experience, Mintek is at the forefront of innovation across the mineral value chain, from mining and mineral processing to extraction and post-mining support.
Website: https://mintek.co.za/
Pyrometallurgy Division at Mintek
Mintek’s Pyrometallurgy Division, located at 200 Malibongwe Drive, Randburg, Johannesburg, invites the delegates of the SAIMM Pyrometallurgy International Conference 2026 to a technical tour of its facilities. The tour will feature two main operational areas: the high-temperature laboratories and the pilot-plant furnace bay facility. The laboratory offers advanced testing equipment, including equilibration-quench tube furnaces, Differential Scanning Calorimetry coupled with Thermogravimetric Analysis (DSC-TGA) instrument, and Hot-Stage Microscope (HSM), alongside a range of conventional rotary, tube, chamber, and induction furnaces. Delegates will also view pilot-scale demonstration-scale DC/AC electric arc furnaces with power ratings ranging from 30 to 2000 kW and top-blown rotary converters (TBRCs) equipped with oxy-natural gas burners capable of reaching 600 kW power.
Address / Coordinates: 200 Malibongwe Drive, Randburg, Johannesburg,
26° 2' 26.66" S, 27° 57' 8.73" E
Number of delegates:
Mintek will accommodate up to 30 delegates. The delegates will be split into 3 groups to facilitate the tour.
PPE requirements: Mintek will provide hard hats for the delegates. Delegates are requested to wear closed shoes for the technical tour. Delegates are also requested not to wear flammable fabric for the tour.
Security requirements: A list of delegates' full names will be required before the day of the tour. Delegates to provide identification documents—ID, passport, driver's license, or equivalent, on the day of the tour.
Duration of the tour: The technical visit will be scheduled for a period not exceeding 4 hours.
Registration Fee: R590p.p return
Accommodation