SOUTHERN AFRICAN RARE EARTHS 2ND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2024

CONFERENCE DINNER SPONSOR

 

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

Due to their unique chemical, catalytic, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties, rare earth metals are critical materials in high-technology applications with irreplaceable application in areas such as medical devices, electric vehicles, energy-efficient lighting, etc. Recent geopolitical instability/challenges, the supply security of REEs is of global concern. Since the global supply chain is currently concentrated in limited jurisdictions such as China and Australia, the need to diversify the supply of these critical materials creates significant opportunities for African countries. The African continent is endowed with some of the world’s largest REE deposits, and as such, it can play a vital role in meeting the growing demand for these critical materials. However, in order to maximize value, there is need to establish and develop capabilities along the value chain. The conference provides a platform for in-depth discussions on the global role of African REE deposits and is designed to stimulate debate on opportunities to grow the African rare earths industry. Overall, the conference seeks to explore the continent’s role in shaping the future of the REEs industry.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Professor James Vaughan,
Associate Professor, The University of Queensland, Australia

Associate Professor James Vaughan is the Metallurgy Major Lead and head of the Hydrometallurgy Research Group within the School of Chemical Engineering. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering at McGill University followed by Master of Applied Science and PhD degrees in Materials Engineering at The University of British Columbia in Canada. Before joining UQ, James gained experience as a research engineer with Placer Dome in gold and BHP in nickel. While at UQ James served as Director of the University of Queensland Rio Tinto Bauxite & Alumina Technology Centre, Chief Investigator for the ARC Research Hub for Australian Copper-Uranium, and lead Chief Investigator for the CRC-P “Value-added cobalt refining technologies powering advanced batteries” with Pure Battery Technologies. James is currently Chief Investigator for the ARC Discovery Project “Inorganic Membrane Percrystallisation in Hydrometallurgy” and “Extracting Queensland’s Rare Earth elements Sustainably” supported by the Queensland Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy as well as for the Low-Cost Zeolite Pilot Plant Project with Zeotech.

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Petrus Johannes van Staden,
Self-employed Hydrometallurgist

After completion of his bachelor's degree and 2 years’ compulsory military service, Petrus van Staden started his career with Mintek in 1986. Over the 35 years that followed, he served in the Hydrometallurgy and Biotechnology Divisions on the hydrometallurgical processing of gold, uranium, base metals and “technology metals” through the application of agitated chemical leaching, bioleaching and heap leaching. Since his retirement in May 2021, he has been self-employed as a Hydrometallurgist. His participation in this conference is sponsored by Wood PLC.

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Dr. Okay Çimen,
Associate Professor, Munzur University, Turkey

Dr. Okay Çimen is an associate professor and a senior geologist. His research interests are critical raw minerals, rare earth elements, carbonatites, geochemistry, mineralogy, petrology, and geochronology and isotope geochemistry. He has been working on rare earths since 2009 and has several publications and proceedings in international peer-review journals and repetitive conferences. He worked as founding manager of Rare Earth Elements Research Center at Munzur University between 2019-2022, which is the first rare earths-related research center at universities in Türkiye. He is also founder of Department of Strategic Raw Materials and Advanced Technology Application (includes master and PhD programs) at Munzur University. He has been working as coordinator, researcher or advisor in a wide range of scientific research projects since 2009 (total budget is over €15M). Dr. Çimen has been serving as senior consultant for reputative private sector and public institutions with regards to the REEs-Nb, podiform chromitite, ultramafic hosted-VMS (Cu-Zn-Ni-Co), Noranda and Besshi-type VMS (Cu-Zn + Au), Fe skarn, hydrothermal Ni-Co-PGE and epithermal Au exploration projects. He is also co-founder of a startup consultancy company on critical raw materials. He has several professional society memberships such as the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG), the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG), the Turkish Association of Economic Geologists, the Association of Geoscience, Mining and Metallurgy Professionals (Turkey), the International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG), the UCTEA Chamber of Geological Engineers of Turkey and the Clay Science Society (Turkey).

Dr. Çimen is also acting as Associate Editor on the Geochemisty's Editorial Board (one of the reputative international earth-science journals, impact factor is 4.21-Elsevier

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Deependra Singh,
Chairman and Managing Director, IREL (India) Limited

Having rich and varied experience spanning over more than three and half decades in the field of Strategic Corporate Planning, Project Management, Production Planning & Control, Quality Control & Quality Management System, Human Resource Management, Skill Development & Industrial Training.

Prior to present assignment, worked as Director (Marketing) IREL, Director (Corp. Planning & Business Development) at EDCIL (India) Ltd.

Graduation in Engineering, M. Tech in Industrial Design and M.B.A in Marketing.

Having credential of association in various projects under World Bank, OPEC and Asian Development Bank including prestigious projects of Central Govt.

UNIDO fellowship in Germany.

Credited with over 65 presentations in international mineral and other conferences

OBJECTIVES

The second International Conference on Southern African Rare Earths 2024 will focus on the global impact of African REE deposits and their role in the sustainable supply of these critical materials. The conference will discuss in detail the latest developments in the industry, and explores the opportunities and challenges to the optimization of the African REEs value chain. The conference focuses on the production of rare earth metals, with specific emphasis on geology, exploration, beneficiation, separation and refining, applications, policies, environmental issues including health and safety aspects, new technological developments, market opportunities, and future outlook for the REEs industry.

 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• Geologists, mining professionals
• Process engineers
• Academics, scientists and researchers
• Environmental, health and safety professionals
• Policy makers
• Investors and financiers
• Manufacturers and end-users
• Industry associations and other stakeholders in REE value chain.

 

TOPICS

• Exploration, geology, and mining of selected REE ore deposits in Africa.
• Beneficiation and extraction of REEs from primary deposits, with emphasis on conventional and novel processing techniques.
• Processing and refining of REE intermediate products, using both conventional (e.g. pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy) and emerging (e.g. solvometallurgy, electrometallurgy, and aeriometallurgy) processing techniques
• Recovery of REEs from secondary resources such as coal fines, fly ash, mine tailings, metallurgical slags, e-waste, spent catalysts, end-of-life batteries and other post-consumer wastes.
• Value-added manufacturing and value chain optimization
• Environmental, Social and Governance best practices
• Health and safety
• Market evolution (technology, applications and new projects)
• Industrial policies and future outlook.

 

CALL FOR PAPERS/PRESENTATIONS

Prospective authors are invited to submit titles and abstracts of their papers, in English.

Prospective authors may choose to submit papers or presentations only.
In person presentations will be preferred, although virtual presentations may be streamed live or pre-recorded.
Prospective authors are invited to submit titles and abstracts of their papers and/or presentations in English.

• Authors must note whether they wish to submit a peer reviewed paper or a standalone presentation.
• Authors must note whether they plan to attend in person or whether they would deliver a live-streamed or recorded virtual presentation.
• The abstracts should be no longer than 500 words and should be submitted to: Camielah Jardine, Head of Conferences, camielah@saimm.co.za

The complete Proceedings volume will be made available on the internet for public access after the conference.

abstract and paper guidelines

 

• Abstract Template
• Guidelines for Authors

 

KEY DATES

• Abstract Submission29 January 2024
• Abstract Acceptance5 February 2024
• Paper Submission4 March 2024

  

REGISTRATION FEES

The early bird registration is valid until 25 March 2024

Early SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member	10 500,00
Early Non SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member	12 000,00
SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member	12 000,00
Non SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member	13 000,00
Author Registration	8 500,00
Students	3 000,00
Retired Member	3 000,00

 

Accommodation

Strand Hotel Swakopmund
R3921.00 per room per night including breakfast
https://www.strandhotelswakopmund.com/

Swakopmund Plaza Hotel
R1728.00 per room per night including breakfast
https://www.swakopmund-plaza-hotel.com/

Hansa Hotel
R1486.00 per room per night including breakfast
https://www.hansahotel.com.na/

Please contact the following travel agent for accommodation or flight bookings.

Lerato Mokoma
Travel Consultant
Tel: 011 622 3840
www.dynamictravel.co.za

 

 

REE Workshop

RARE EARTHS ELEMENTS WORKSHOP
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Registration fee: R4 500

CONTACT

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Camielah Jardine, Head of Conferencing
E-mail: camielah@saimm.co.za
Tel: +27 11 834-1273/7