University of Mines holds biennial conference
The Third Biennial International Mining and Mineral Conference of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) at Tarkwa in the Western Region, has been held, with about 250 delegates from across the world attending.
Advertisement
The university sees the series of conference as a platform on which academics and professionals in the mining, petroleum and allied industries, can share their views and experiences on how to address challenges confronting the sector.
The conference forms part of a programme by the university authorities to shape the vision of the institution to become a centre of excellence in the country and Africa for conducting cutting-edge research and for producing world-class professionals for the mining, petroleum and allied industries.
Theme and topics
The theme for the two-day conference, attended by participants from Asia, Europe, North America, Australia and Africa was, ‘‘Innovations in mining and processing: Expanding the frontiers of mining technology.’’
Among the topics discussed were: innovations in mining and petroleum engineering, geomatic and geological developments, advances in mineral processing, water and environmental issues in mining, sustainable developments, corporate social responsibility and small-scale mining, occupational health and safety, as well as gender issues.
Gold belts
In his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor of UMaT, Professor Jerry Samuel Yaw Kuma, noted that on the grounds of the university, ‘‘We sit on the prominent gold belts of Ghana. The university is situated within several operating mining companies and also in the heart of the new oil find, and our dedicated staff continue to give us a unique strength and advantage to achieve this vision.’’
Nations’ development
He observed that most nations across the globe developed by exploiting their mineral resources, saying: ‘‘Our motivation is, therefore, seated in the fact that, Ghana is endowed with abundant mineral resources which have to be exploited for national development.’’
In addition to gold, bauxite, diamonds and manganese that were being mined commercially, Prof Kuma said the limestone in Buipe and Nauli in the north, the columbite-tantalite and beryl deposits along the coast, quartz in Bogyesango, garnet in the Shai Hills and iron in Podu and Opon Manse, were begging for exploitation.
Environmental and safety challenges
The Vice Chancellor declared, ‘‘As we take steps to develop these resources, the environmental and safety challenges should be surmounted in a friendly manner and corporate social responsibility should not be an afterthought.’’
Global economic crunch
In addition, Prof Kuma advised that innovative ways of raising funds and improving recovery efficiency should be sought in the light of the global economic crunch, and expressed the hope that there would be rewarding deliberations, where the participants would initiate professional partnerships among themselves.
Presentations
In his presentation on the topic; ‘‘Increasing mine safety and productivity - The past, present and future,’’ the Chairman of Mine Geotechnical Engineering, University of New South Wales School of Mining Engineering, Sydney, Australia, Prof F. T. Sourineni, recounted a number of mining accidents that had occurred in various parts of the world, including Ghana, adding that such incidents could have been avoided if the necessary technical measures had been adopted.
Prof Jonas Addai-Mensah of the University of South Australia, who also presented a paper on ‘‘Post-modern challenges and opportunities in smart and sustainable minerals processing in the mining industry,’’ citing a research finding, noted that new technologies were making deep mining safer and easier, while operational energy was efficient and cost-effective.