The leader of Responsible Production of SMI-ICE-Chile spoke at the International Congress of Metallurgical Engineering, Materials and the Environment, recently held in the city of Trujillo
CONIMETM is an international meeting of professionals and students of metallurgical engineering that has been held regularly every two years in Peru, for three decades now. This version was organized by the School of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Engineering of the National University of Trujillo, under the title: “Circular economy and new technologies applied to the sustainable development of the country.”
In this instance, Dr. Dennis Vega’s presentation focused on several technological proposals that can help face the great challenge of current mining: meeting the growing demand for critical minerals through responsible production.
“We need to develop applied research that provides industry and society with greater understanding and management of vulnerable ecosystems,” explained Dr. Dennis Vega. “As researchers, we must positively influence a fairer distribution of risks, impacts and benefits related to extractive industries.”
Dennis Vega mentioned the work of SMI-ICE-Chile, together with the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) of The University of Queensland, around topics such as: energy transition and decarbonization, integrated water supply systems, integrated transformation of tailings, and exploration of critical minerals in mining waste.
In his presentation at the National University of Trujillo, the SMI-ICE-Chile researcher highlighted the work carried out by SMI UQ regarding decarbonization and energy transition, through theJulius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre. «At SMI-ICE-Chile – he noted – we are taking advantage of the capabilities of the Sustainable Minerals Institute in the field of mining and processing to identify strategic energy and interdisciplinary initiatives that improve operational efficiency, environmental and social performance.»
Dr. Vega’s visit to Peru also provided space for an interesting work meeting with the highest authorities of the National University of Cajamarca, a meeting where they discussed future lines of work on research and development issues related to the mining industry, as well as possible collaboration agreements linked to the University of Queensland. Present at this instance were the rector of the National University of Cajamarca (UNC), Dr. Berardo Escalante Zumaeta; Dr. Carlos Manuel Rosales Loredo, vice chancellor of Research at UNC; Dr. Héctor Emilio Garay Montañez, director of Research Institutes at UNC; Dr. Francisco Chávez Marín, director of Innovation and Technology Transfer at UNC; Yadira Vásquez Plasencia, coordinator of Cooperation and International Relations of the UNC and Edinson Terán, of the Los Andes de Cajamarca Association – Newmont ALAC.
