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WIM 2010
ORGANISING COMMITTEE’S THANK YOU NOTE
We were
proud to welcome 344 delegates from 23 countries to Santiago, to the
second
Water in Mining Congress! After the success of the first WIM congress
held in
this same city in 2008 and attended by over 350 delegates, we trust
that you
found the second one even more exciting and thought-provoking. Water,
once
considered a never ending, easily available and manageable resource,
has now
emerged as one of the most important environmental concerns for
mankind and for
the mining industry, in particular. In several countries, mining
activity takes
place in arid and semi-arid regions where water threatens to become a
limiting
factor for the development and even the survival of mining
operations.
During recent years, the industry efforts have been focused on
efficient water
use throughout different mining and metallurgical processes. These
efforts have
not always been recognised by the community and are in part offset by
the
inevitable, gradual but continuous decrease of ore grades. Even in
regions
where water is not yet considered a scarce resource, the impact of
mining on
natural water quality and availability for alternative uses is one of
the major
concerns of the surrounding community. The aim of the WIM congress
series is to
address and discuss these concerns.
We trust WIM 2010 provided you with a unique opportunity to discuss with colleagues from around the world recent innovations and developments related to the availability and the efficient use of water in the mining industry, as well as share proven solutions and define emerging needs. The congress showcased the aspects of water management that have already been researched and studied, as well as those that still need to be developed.
A fantastic three-day programme, put together thanks to the efforts of the authors and reviewers, included over 50 presentations on watershed management, desalination, water supply, effluent treatment, water balance and efficient use, natural resource quantification and protection, water management, groundwater modelling, best practices and case studies. Presentations featured in these sessions reflected the mining industry’s efforts to improve water management methodologies addressing such concerns as limited use, rights, access, distribution and community involvement. The Congress programme also included keynote lectures by invited speakers Terrence Chatwin of INAP, Anne-Marie Fleury of ICMM and Graham Sim of GE.
We thank our sponsors for their generous support and everyone involved in the organisation of this Congress. We hope that you enjoyed the technical sessions as well as the social functions, and look forward to seeing you again at WIM 2012!
WIM 2010
Organising Committee
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