SME attended & participated in the 2014 SOMP meeting in South Africa June 28.
SME attended & participated in the 2014 SOMP meeting in South Africa June 28.
SME Deputy Executive Director, John Hayden, SME 2013 President, Dr. Jessica Kogel and SME 2010 President Dr. Nikhil Trivedi, attended the 2014 SOMP (Society of Mining Professors) meeting that included a one-day session and the University of Witwatersrand. The University of Witwatersrand's School of Mining Engineering is the largest on the African continent and in the English speaking world. The School of Mining Engineering at the University of Witwatersrand has 900 students that includes 250 graduate students.
The Keynote at the SOMP meeting on June 28 at the University of Witwatersrand was given by Nick Holland, CEO of Gold Fields, a global gold mining company with operations in Peru, Australia, Ghana and South Africa.
Nick Holland, CEO of Gold Fields speaking to the group.
His address, The State of the Gold Mining Sector, focused on seven specific themes of how the industry should respond the current downturn in global mining, specifically gold mining, in order to maintain their competitiveness:
1. The industry should focus on cash returns, not production growth. To do this the industry needs to restructure itself, shed excess labor, and shut down marginal operations.
2. Industry should mechanize with more remote control to improve safety and keep the miner away from the mine face.
3. Industry should innovate in use of robotics, deep level mechanized mining, drill & blasting, transportation and processing.
4. Industry should "up-skill" by going from Jurassic park to joystick. Mining departments should change curriculum and cater more to Y generation skills of working in control rooms, not ore front.
5. Industry should focus more on creating value for the community by engagement to obtain and maintain their social license to operate.
6. Industry should better communicate the benefits of the industry including the economic impact.
7. Industry should partner with stakeholders such as government, labor, communities, and developing agencies to improve transparency in communications.
Taken at SOMP meeting at University of Witwatersrand on June 28 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
L-R: Dr. Vladislav Kecojevic, West Virginia University, Dr. Michael Nelson, University of Utah, SME's John Hayden, SME 2013 President, Dr. Jessica Kogel, Dr. Christopher Bise, West Virginia University, Dr. Michael Karmis, Virginia Tech, SME 2010 President Dr. Nikhil Trivedi. Not pictured Dr. Deborah Shields, Colorado State Univ.
The Society of Mining Professors (SOMP) is a global academic community committed to make a significant contribution to the future of the minerals disciplines. The main goal of the Society is to guarantee the scientific, technical, academic and professional knowledge required to ensure a sustainable supply of minerals for mankind. The Society facilitates information exchange, research and teaching partnerships and other collaborative activities among its members.
Learn more at http://www.miningprofs.org/.
University of Witwatersrand's School of Mining Engineering in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Keynote at the SOMP meeting on June 28 at the University of Witwatersrand was given by Nick Holland, CEO of Gold Fields, a global gold mining company with operations in Peru, Australia, Ghana and South Africa.
Nick Holland, CEO of Gold Fields speaking to the group.
His address, The State of the Gold Mining Sector, focused on seven specific themes of how the industry should respond the current downturn in global mining, specifically gold mining, in order to maintain their competitiveness:
1. The industry should focus on cash returns, not production growth. To do this the industry needs to restructure itself, shed excess labor, and shut down marginal operations.
2. Industry should mechanize with more remote control to improve safety and keep the miner away from the mine face.
3. Industry should innovate in use of robotics, deep level mechanized mining, drill & blasting, transportation and processing.
4. Industry should "up-skill" by going from Jurassic park to joystick. Mining departments should change curriculum and cater more to Y generation skills of working in control rooms, not ore front.
5. Industry should focus more on creating value for the community by engagement to obtain and maintain their social license to operate.
6. Industry should better communicate the benefits of the industry including the economic impact.
7. Industry should partner with stakeholders such as government, labor, communities, and developing agencies to improve transparency in communications.
Taken at SOMP meeting at University of Witwatersrand on June 28 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
L-R: Dr. Vladislav Kecojevic, West Virginia University, Dr. Michael Nelson, University of Utah, SME's John Hayden, SME 2013 President, Dr. Jessica Kogel, Dr. Christopher Bise, West Virginia University, Dr. Michael Karmis, Virginia Tech, SME 2010 President Dr. Nikhil Trivedi. Not pictured Dr. Deborah Shields, Colorado State Univ.
The Society of Mining Professors (SOMP) is a global academic community committed to make a significant contribution to the future of the minerals disciplines. The main goal of the Society is to guarantee the scientific, technical, academic and professional knowledge required to ensure a sustainable supply of minerals for mankind. The Society facilitates information exchange, research and teaching partnerships and other collaborative activities among its members.
Learn more at http://www.miningprofs.org/.
University of Witwatersrand's School of Mining Engineering in Johannesburg, South Africa.
