SDIMI 2022 10th International Conference

About

We celebrate a journey that commenced in 2003 in the historic town of Milos, Greece, when the landmark MILOS DECLARATION was adopted. The MILOS DECLARATION represents a statement of our collective contribution to a sustainable future using scientific, technical, educational, and research skills and knowledge in minerals extraction and utilization that was endorsed by the leading global professional and scientific organizations and institutes representing the minerals professionals. SDIMI 2022 aims to continue with our noble journey by building on the progress we have made since 2003.

To learn more about SDIMI, visit: https://sdimi.org/

Format of the Event

This will be a hybrid conference entailing a real-time, face-to-face component as well as a virtual component.

Why Attend

This will be the first time the SDIMI conference will be held in Africa. Namibia, a country with vast mineral resources and a vibrant economy, has been chosen to host SDIMI because it offers the opportunity to examine and discuss a range of critical issues facing the extractive sector, including mining in sensitive areas, water and energy scarcity, active artisanal and small scale mining, the need for capacity building, fair trade practices, and opportunities for value-added production.

Learn
The conference will feature presentations from experts and practitioners on advances in social, economic, and environmental sustainability, and related technical issues relevant to the Namibian and African mining sector and other areas around the world.

Meet people
This conference brings together people interested in mining in Namibia and Africa, including governments representatives, the mining industry, academia, NGOs, and civil society. Opportunities for networking and discussion will be provided. A number of international attendees are also expected, so more networking opportunities will be available

World-class mining operations
Namibia has an extensive and diverse mineral endowment, is the source of the richest alluvial diamond deposits globally, and is a world leader in marine diamond mining. Namibia has significant uranium mines capable of providing 10% of world mining output.

Professional Development
Attend world-class presentations and mine tours to gain professional development points

Enhance your knowledge
Hear from world-renowned speakers and top industry leaders coupled with networking with conference delegates.

Experience Namibia
Namibia is home to the world's oldest desert and has the highest dunes in the world. Environment protection is enshrined in the constitution, and more than 40 percent of the country is under conservation management. Delegates will have an opportunity to experience the warm hospitability of the Namibian people and their cultural activities. Namibia is home to some of Africa's most spectacular natural sights. The Southern part of Namibia (//Karas region) hosts the Fisher river canyon, the second largest canyon after the Grand Canyon in the USA, and Sossusvlei’' 's Sossusvlei's spectacular scenery rust-red sand dunes set against white pans. There will be opportunities to visit some operating mines and unique game parks home to a diversity of wildlife, including the big five. Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, and Lüderitz are notable coastal towns where the dunes meet the ocean.

Call for Papers and Key Dates

Papers or presentations are invited on any topic related to the conference.
Extended abstracts will be peer reviewed for submission in the SAIMM Special Journal edition.
Prospective authors are invited to submit titles and abstracts of their papers in English.
The abstracts should be no longer than 500 words and should be submitted to:
Gugu Charlie, Conference Coordinator
Tel: +27 (0) 73 801 8353
Email: sdimi2022@saimm.co.za

Key Dates

• 4 April 2022 Submission of abstracts
• 11 April 2022 Acceptance of abstracts
• 16 May 2022 Submission of extended abstracts

Authors of selected abstracts will be invited to submit full papers in a special issue published in the Extractive Industries and Society Journal.

Programme

The conference topics are as listed below:

Mining in Africa and its Unique Challenges

• Mining in Protected Areas
• Artisanal and small-scale mining
• Uranium Mining
• Marine Mining
• Precious Gems

Critical and Strategic Minerals

• Mining towards a renewable future – lithium, rare earths, etc
• Circular Economy

Sustainability Issues

• Social License to Operate
• Mining industry’s response to covid-19 : Impact and learning points
• Economic Sufficiency
• Fair Trade of Raw Materials (Minerals)
• Advances in life cycle and sustainability assessment in the industry
• Policy and Regulatory Frameworks
• Sustainability across the Value Chain
• Integration of sustainability thinking into professional education

Technical Issues

• Mineral Beneficiation
• Water Stewardship
• Energy Efficiency
• Tailings Management
• Mine Closure and Repurposing case studies
• Space Mining
• Seabed Mining

Full conference programme coming soon

Conference dates

• Thursday—15 September SDIMI Conference
• Friday—16 September SDIMI Conference
• Saturday—17 September SDIMI Conference + Departure + Swakopmund
• Sunday—18 September Swakopmund Tour + Dessert Adventure
• Monday—19 September Swakopmund Mine Tour + Henties Bay
• Tuesday—20 September Drive to Windhoek + Departures

Preliminary programme 

• Saturday—17 September SDIMI Conference + Departure + Swakopmund
• Sunday—18 September Husab mine Tour + Dessert Adventure
• Monday—19 September Namibia Uranium Institute+ Desalination plant + Henties Bay
• Tuesday—20 September Drive to Windhoek + Departures

Cost: N$4 500

Keynote speakers

Zebra Kasete

Vice President Dundee Precious Metals Namibia

Mr Kasete has more than 33 years’ of global experience in the mining industry, including in executive, corporate,operational and strategic roles.
Prior to joining Dundee in February 2016 as MD & VP of Dundee Precious Metals, Mr. Kasete served as Managing Director of Murowa Diamond Pvt Limited, Zimbabwe, which is one of the only diamond producers which was not nationalized and as non-executive director at Sengwa Colliery (Pvt) Ltd.
Prior moving to Zimbabwe in 2011, he spent 25 years at Rio Tinto where he joined as cadet metallurgist in 1987 in Namibia. In Rio Tinto, Mr. Kasete held senior roles in operations, technical, procurement, human resources, corporate services, business development and stakeholder engagement space within both in his native country Namibia as well in Australia, USA and Zimbabwe.
Mr. Kasete is a metallurgist by profession and worked in uranium, borates, talc, diamond, copper and gold operations. In 2003, he obtained an MBA Degree in General and Strategic Management from Maastricht School of Management, The Netherlands.
Interests and Hobbies:
Mr. Kasete is passionate about Environment, Social & Governance components of any company and is especially interested in transforming struggling organizations and instill a new culture of empowering employees with strong skill sets.
Mr. Kasete is a rare breed as he is above all a family man, passionate about farming, reading, running and will never say no to a good glass of wine. He is an ardent supporter to developing communities and is patron to various schools.
Other experiences and offices:
• Current President of Chamber of Mines in Namibia since 2019.
• Director of Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb & country head for Dundee Precious Metal Inc. in Namibia.
• Chairman of Coblenz Green Venture, Namibia
• Patron-Coblenz Combined School, Namibia 3
• Former Vice-President of Chamber of Mines
• Former member of Rio Tinto Diamonds Executive Committee
• Previously Rio Tinto’s country head in Zimbabwe
• Former Executive director of Rössing Uranium Limited board and served on the Remuneration and Nomination sub-committee.
• Former company head -Rössing Foundation
• Former Trustee at the Namibian Institute Mining and Technology

Prof. Gavin Hilson

Professor and Chair of Sustainability in Business, University of Surrey

Gavin is a leading global authority on the environmental and social impacts of the small-scale mining sector. He has published over 300 journal articles, book chapters and reports on the subject, his specialist knowledge widely recognized internationally. He has delivered talks on small-scale mining at United Nations headquarters in New York, the World Bank in Washington DC and several universities worldwide. He has also provided consultancy services on the subject for a range of organizations: the UK Department for International Development, World Bank and EGMONT (Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels); the NGO sector, including the Alliance for Responsible Mining and the WWF Guianas; and corporations such as Newmont Gold Mining and Gold Fields. Gavin is editor-in-chief of The Extractive Industries and Society (Elsevier Science), and is on the editorial boards of The Journal of Cleaner Production (Elsevier Science), Resources Policy (Elsevier Science), Mineral Economics (Springer) and The International Journal of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Environment (Taylor & Francis). He is also an executive board member of the Diamond Development Initiative (DDI), an NGO established to improve awareness and eliminate circulation of 'conflict diamonds'.

Dr. Gabi Schneider

Executive Director Namibian Uranium Association

Dr. Gabi Schneider graduated in 1980 with a Master of Science in Economic Geology from the University of Frankfurt, where she also obtained her PhD in the Faculty of Earth Sciences in 1984.

After working for the Institute for Geochemistry and Metallgesellschaft, both in Frankfurt, she joined the Geological Survey of Namibia in 1985 as a Senior Geologist. She headed the laboratory, before she became Deputy Director in the Division Applied Geology. She served as Director of Mines in 1995, and was appointed Director of the Geological Survey of Namibia in 1996. Her professional experience covers economic and exploration geology, mineralogy and geochemistry as well as management and administration.

She serves on numerous platforms notably as the President of the Organisation of African Geological Surveys (2013- 2016) and the Vice Chairperson of the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia. She is a Director of the Minerals Development Fund of Namibia; the Vice Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Namibian Institute for Mining and Technology (NIMT); a member of the Sustainable Development Council of Namibia and a member of the Benguela Current Commission.

She served as a presidential appointee on the Council of the University of Namibia and its Executive Committee, and as a member of the National Heritage Council of Namibia, where she also held the post of Chairperson of the Scientific Committee. She is an honorary life member of the Geological Society of Namibia, an honorary fellow of the Geological Society of London, and is a registered Scientist with the South Africa Council for Natural Scientists.

Ricus Grimbeek

President and Chief Executive Officer, Trevali Mining Corporation

Ricus Grimbeek is an experienced mining executive with nearly 30 years of progressive experience in the resource sector, and has a proven track record working at all levels of the business. Before joining Trevali, he was the Chief Operating Officer of Vale Base Metals North Atlantic, where he held responsibility for the overall operating and financial performance of 16 mining and refining operations in four countries. He was also previously the President and COO of South32 Australia, overseeing 6 operations in Australia and Colombia. He has also served as Asset President of Aluminium Australia, Head of Group HSEC for BHP Billiton, President and COO of BHP Billiton’s Ekati Diamond Mine, Executive Vice President Mining and Concentrating for Lonmin Platinum. Ricus holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mining) from the University of Pretoria, has completed the Management Development Program from the University of Orange Free State, and holds an Advanced Certificate in Mine Ventilation from the Chamber of Mines.

Professor Kostas Komnitsas

Professor Kostas Komnitsas is a Mining and Metallurgical Engineer, holds a PhD degree in Hydrometallurgy and is the director of the Laboratories (i) Ore Beneficiation, (ii) Waste Management and Soil Decontamination, and (iii) Ceramics and Glass Technology of the School of Mineral Resources Engineering of Technical University of Crete. He is expert in the fields of hydro- and bio-hydrometallurgy, waste management and valorization, soil decontamination, environmental risk assessment and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). Prof. Komnitsas has been appointed as national representative/expert for research issues to the European Commission by the Greek General Secretariat of Research and Technology during the 6^th Framework Programme (FP6) for the Action Integration and Strengthening of the European Research Area (2002-2004), International Cooperation (2006-2009) and the Action Societal Challenge 'Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials' (HORIZON 2020). Prof. Komnitsas has been appointed more than 120 times as evaluator / monitor of research proposals for the European Commission and Research Foundations of several countries including US, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Romania, Kazakhstan, Poland, Armenia, Serbia, Cyprus etc. He has implemented more than 60 research projects (funded from national agencies and the European Union, including previous FPs, H2020, Life and others).

He is member of the Education Council of EURECA-PRO, European University on Sustainable Consumption and Production, which is an alliance of 7 universities, https://www.eurecapro.eu/. Prof. Komnitsas has published more than 120 papers in peer-reviewed journals, has a Scopus h-index of 32 and is included in the list of the top 2% most influential scientists in his scientific area, https://doi.org/10.17632/btchxktzyw.3 (Scopus Author ID: 6603092010, Web of Science ResearcherID: AAG-8936-2020, ORCID 0000-0003-4252-1632).

Prof Neville Plint

Director of the Sustainable Minerals Institute, The university of Queensland
Professor Plint holds a PhD, MBA (distinction) from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and brings extensive leadership experience and a deep understanding of the mining sector having worked for 20 years with Anglo American in South Africa.

Professor Plint’s extensive background focused on delivering improved operational performance on mining sites by developing and implementing new technologies, whilst establishing a global network of research professionals in academic institutes, mining companies and research organisations.

Prof Plint has a global reputation in the mining sector and has demonstrated experience in the mining and resource industry. His focus is on delivering improved operational performance on mining sites by developing and implementing new technologies, whilst establishing a global network of research professionals in academic institutes, mining companies and research organisations.

International Organising Committee

Prof. Harmony Musiyarira

Namibia University of Science and Technology

Professor Harmony Musiyarira is the Executive Dean for the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment. He is a former Head of Department of Mining and Process Engineering at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. He is a seasoned Mineral Processing, Production and Environmental engineer. He previously managed a Refractory High Temperature materials, Earthenware and Sanitaryware ceramic production plants for a formerly Anglo-American Corporation. As a Plant Manager, he demonstrated success using strategic decision-making, effective facilities and production management and continuous improvement programs to drive aggressive bottom line cost reductions, while maintaining product quality levels and production output.

His teaching and research interests are in the areas of Minerals Processing, Production and Maintenance Management and Cleaner Production application in the minerals industry. Harmony was instrumental in the development of the Namibian Sector Growth Strategy for Coloured Gemstones for the Ministry of industrialisation, Trade and SME Development. He was also a member of the project team for Intergovernmental Forum (IGF) on Mining, Metals, Minerals and Sustainable Development carrying out the Mineral Policy Framework Assessment and capacity building for Namibia. Harmony is the President Elect for the Society of Mining Professors (SOMP). He is a PhD external examiner for the University of Johannesburg.

To learn more about Prof. Musiyarira, visit: http://fe.nust.na/?q=staff/mining-and-process-engineering/harmony-musiyarira

Prof. Zach Agioutantis

University of Kentucky

Prof Agioutantis has an Engineering Diploma in Mining and Metallurgical Engineering from the National Technical University in Athens, Greece and an MSc and PhD degree from Virginia Tech, USA. He is currently the Mining Engineering Foundation Professor at the Department of Mining Engineering at the University of Kentucky.

To learn more about Prof. Agioutantis, visit:  https://www.engr.uky.edu/research/researchers/zach-agioutantis-ph-d/

Dr George Barakos

Curtin University

Dr. Barakos has an Engineering Diploma in Mineral Resources Engineering and an MSc degree in Geo-environmental Engineering from the Technical University of Crete, Greece, and a PhD degree from Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany. He is currently a lecturer at the Western Australia School of Mines, Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering at Curtin University.

To learn more about Dr. Barakos, visit: https://staffportal.curtin.edu.au/staff/profile/view/george-barakos-67d5960c/

Prof Deborah Shields

Politecnico di Torino

Prof. Deborah J. Shields received a Ph.D. in Ecosystem Science from Colorado State University (1997) and a MSc. in Mineral Economics from Colorado School of Mines (1985). She was a Faculty Affiliate in the Dept. of Economics at Colorado State University and is a Visiting Professor at the Polytechnic University of Turin, IT, in the Dept. of Land, Environment and Infrastructure Engineering. She previously worked as a research scientist for the US Government, first with the US Bureau of Mines and later with the U.S. Forest Service, Research and Development Division. In the latter position she directed the agency’s mineral policy research program. Her research foci are minerals in sustainable development, mineral policy, and integrated sustainability assessments. 

Prof. Michael Hitch

Curtin University

To learn more about Prof. Hitch, visit: https://staffportal.curtin.edu.au/staff/profile/view/michael-hitch-7e5a3d71/

Prof Godfrey Dzinomwa

Namibia University of Science and Technology

Godfrey is the Professor of Extractive Metallurgy at the Namibian University of Science and Technology. He holds a B.Sc (Hon) Engineering degree in Metallurgy from the University of Zimbabwe and a PhD in Minerals Process from the University of Queensland in Australia. He has 32 years experience in the minerals industry, covering both academic and operational roles.  Prof Dzinomwa has worked in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia, where he held senior as well as top management positions.

To learn more about Prof. Dzinomwa, visit: http://fe.nust.na/?q=staff/mining-and-process-engineering/godfrey-dzinomwa

Dr. Absai Vatuva

University of Namibia

Head of the Geoscience Department at the University of Namibia. Lecturer in Geostatistics, Economic Geology, Structural Geology, Mineral Processing and Gemstone. Has keen interest in the sustainable development of mineral raw materials

To learn more about Dr. Absai Vatuva, visit: https://www.unam.edu.na/staff/absai-vatuva

Dr. Simit Raval

Dr Simit Raval has over 25 years of combined experience in mining industry and academia. He graduated in Mining Engineering (1994) and served in industry and academia in India for about 13 years; during this time, he was also actively involved in advising on mine environmental management as well as auditing mineral industry as an ISO certification auditor. In 2008, he moved to Australia after receiving coveted Endeavour award to conduct his research at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney Australia. He currently leads a group of researchers focused on utilising data from sensors mounted on various platforms, from satellite through to UAVs, to visualise, identify and monitor operational environments at UNSW. He has supervised PhD research projects involving drone-based smart sensing for a mine eco-space, underground mobile scanning, image-based automated material characterisation besides mine rehabilitation/closure, climate change and asteroid mining.
https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/simit-raval

Local and Regional Organising Committee

• Prof Harmony Musiyarira
• Prof Godfrey Dzinomwa
• Dr Mallikarjun Pillalamarry
• Prof Benjamin Mapani
• Mr Bernard Sililo
• Dr Valentine Katte
• Dr Absai Vatuva
• Mr Privilege Shava
• Dr Jewette Masinja
• Dr Kawunga Nyirenda
• Dr Bunda Besa
• Prof Raymond Suglo
• Dr Antony Mamuse

Prof Neville Plint

Director of the Sustainable Minerals Institute, The university of Queensland

Professor Plint holds a PhD, MBA (distinction) from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and brings extensive leadership experience and a deep understanding of the mining sector having worked for 20 years with Anglo American in South Africa.
Professor Plint’s extensive background focused on delivering improved operational performance on mining sites by developing and implementing new technologies, whilst establishing a global network of research professionals in academic institutes, mining companies and research organisations.

Prof Plint has a global reputation in the mining sector and has demonstrated experience in the mining and resource industry. His focus is on delivering improved operational performance on mining sites by developing and implementing new technologies, whilst establishing a global network of research professionals in academic institutes, mining companies and research organisations.

VENUE AND ACCOMODATION

Accommodation will be provided at the venue of Windhoek Country Club Resort, an international standard 4+ star hotel, whose information is shown in the Venue Contact and Location section.

Rooms have been reserved at the venue hotel with a discounted rate of N$1200 Namibian Dollar (equivalent to approximately USD 90/120) for single/double Superior room, including breakfast and taxes, until 30 July 2022.

You may choose to stay in other facilities at your own discretion. Less expensive alternative hotels in the vicinity of the Conference venue include:

Windhoek Country Club
Website: https://www.legacyhotels.co.za/hotels/windhoek-country-club-resort
Bookings: https://bookings.legacyhotels.co.za/booking/?property=HRWIN&adults=1&children=0&rooms=1&arrival=2022-09-07&departure=2022-09-18&promotion=SAIM0922          

Dates                    07 – 18 September 2022
Rooms                  Standard Rooms
Rate                       N$ 1 080.00 - Single, N$ 1 430.00 - Double
Promo code        SAIM0922
Bookable             Today – 18 Sep 2022

Avani Windhoek Hotel & Casino
Website: https://www.avanihotels.com/en/windhoek
Booking Link for Conference Delegates:NUST

Arrebusch Travel Lodge
Website: https://www.arebbusch.com/
Booking Link for Conference Delegates: 32ND SOMP Annual Meeting and Conference held by NUST and SAIMM
PromoCode: SOMP32

NUST Hotel School
e-mail: hotelschool@nust.na with reference to the 32^nd SOMP Annual Meeting and Conference.

Hilton Windhoek Hotel
Website:https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/
Booking Link for Conference Delegates:
e-mail: WDHHI_Reservations@hilton.com with reference to the 32^nd SOMP Annual Meeting and Conference.

Windhoek Country Club
Website:https://www.legacyhotels.co.za/hotels/windhoek-country-club-resort

Windhoek Palm Hotel
Website: http://wph.com.na/
Booking Link for Conference Delegates:
e-mail: reservations@wph.com.na with reference to the 32^nd SOMP Annual Meeting and Conference.

Special discounts for the conference delegates have been negotiated with the above listed establishments.

Experience Namibia

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Etosha National Park, Sossusvlei, Fish River Canyon, Skeleton Coast, Caprivi Strip,
Luderitz, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, www.wheretostay.na

FORMIDABLE AT SPORT

Namibians participate in various sports: soccer, rugby, cricket, hockey and athletics.

Conference Secretariat

Conference chairperson: Prof Harmony Musiyarira
President Society of Mining Professors
Namibia University of Science and Technology
E-mail: hmusiyarira@nust.na
Tel: +264 61 207 - 2076
web: www.nust.na

Conference Co-ordinator: Gugu Charlie
E-mail: gugu@saimm.co.za
Tel: +27 73 801 8353
Web: www.saimm.co.za

Registration Fees

Early SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member R7 800 (USD520)
Early Non SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member -R8 800 (USD590)
SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member – R9 800 (USD660)
Non SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member – R8 800 (USD590)
Author Registration R4 500 (USD300)
Regional Academics – R4 500 (USD300)
SOMP & SDIMI Registration – R15 000 (USD1000)
Students – R1 500 (USD100)
Retired Member – R1 500 (USD100)

ONLINE
Early SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member -R3 900 (USD260)
Early Non SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member – R4 400 (USD295)
SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member – R4 400 (USD295)
Non SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member – R4 900 (USD330)
Author Registration -R2 250 (USD150)
Regional Academics – R2 250 (USD150)
SOMP & SDIMI Registration – R7 500 (USD500)
Students – 750 (USD50)
Retired Member – R750 (USD50)

For detailed instructions about the event registration process, please download the PDF helpfile...

You may be required to secure a Namibian visa and other documents for traveling to Namibia. The organizing committee of the 32^nd SOMP Annual Meeting & Conference will offer invitation letters to the participants that need to apply for a visa to be able to travel to Namibia. To find out whether you require a visa, please follow the link: https://namibiaembassyusa.org/foreign-nationals/

For general information on Namibian visa and please contact your local Namibian embassy/consulate for details which are specifically applicable to you.

You may send the conference contact an email including your complete address and other eligible information to request an invitation letter for assisting your Namibian visa application.

Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) is about 40 km from Windhoek City. It is a 45-minute drive in non-rush hour traffic, though it usually takes about an hour to travel by taxi at a fare of US$20 to US$25. Shuttle from Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) to preferred place of accommodation can be arranged through the following service providers:

• City Cab
• Dial-a-Cab
• Windhoek Airport Transfers