With the participation of nearly 60 members from the world’s leading mining economies, the 105th meeting of the International Organizing Committee (IOC) of the World Mining Congress (WMC) was officially held, marking the first time our country served as host.
The event began last Sunday, April 14, at the Sheraton Hotel, bringing together government officials, industry representatives, business leaders, and mining experts from countries such as Germany, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Canada, Chile, China, Peru, the United States, Spain, Japan, Poland, Slovenia, Austria, among others. Additionally, participants from Mexico, Turkey, Indonesia, Nepal, and Sweden joined remotely via streaming.
The activities extended until Wednesday, April 17, allowing IOC members to address various topics related to the mining industry, including social license, the challenges and outlook for global mining in times of uncertainty, and future trends in the international mining sector.
Start of the day
Professor Marek Cała, President of the World Mining Congress, was responsible for opening the IOC meeting on Sunday morning, thanking the Chilean Chapter for organizing the event, before proceeding with the administrative aspects of the organization.
Dr. Christian Reichl from Austria presented a report on global mining data, while other international experts discussed topics such as the implementation of the Krupinski Award and the election of the IOC/WMC president for the 2024–2028 term.
During the day, prominent professionals from our country’s mining sector presented, including Daniel Weinstein, a renowned lawyer and international consultant in the mining industry, who delivered an outstanding presentation on current and future mining trends in Chile, capturing the attention of the international delegates. Following him, Rodrigo Dupuoy, President for Latin America of Sorcia Minerals, discussed the challenges of lithium in Chile and worldwide, especially regarding the move toward a sustainable extraction model for this mineral—a topic that greatly interested the audience.
Tribute to Andrzej Zabłocki
A heartfelt moment during this first day was the posthumous tribute to Andrzej Zablocki, a beloved Polish mining engineer who had an outstanding four-decade career in mining in our country and was one of the main promoters of the idea that Chile become the host of the IOC WMC. This tribute was made by Dr. Eleonora Widzyk–Capehart, a friend and also a driving force behind this achievement.
International Board Elections
On Sunday, the new international board was elected for a four-year term, with Marek Cała being unanimously reconfirmed by his peers—both those present and those participating via streaming—as Chairperson of the World Mining Congress.
Gala Dinner
In the evening, the Welcome Gala Dinner for the international delegation was held, attended by prominent executives from mining companies, business leaders, and industry authorities such as the Mining Council, SONAMI, Chilean Mining Foundation, Chilean Engineers Association, APRIMIN, Institute of Mining Engineers of Chile, and the Chilean Mining Chamber.
Attendees were welcomed by the host and President of the Chilean Chapter of the IOC/WMC, Manuel Viera. In his welcome speech, Viera highlighted the importance of Chile being chosen as the host of this annual meeting, whose main purpose is to make key decisions in coordinating the World Mining Congresses.
Among the guests of honor at the event were Peru’s Minister of Energy and Mining, Rómulo Mucho; the Vice Minister of the same ministry, Henry Luna; and the Minister of Mining of India,
V.L. Kantha Rao and the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Coal of India, Rupinder Brar, alongside economist and manager of the Institute of Mining Engineers of Peru (IIMP), Carlos Díaz Canseco.
Awards presentation
During the gala, the distinctions of “Global Mining Leader” were awarded to Peru’s Minister of Mines and Energy, Rómulo Mucho, and the distinguished mining lawyer and historian Gastón Fernández, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Chilean mining. Both awards were presented by the WMC President, Marek Cała.
The day concluded with a performance featuring traditional dances from American countries and a showcase of Chilean folklore, including a diablada, dances from Easter Island, and a finale with a beautiful cueca, all presented by the Chilean Folkloric Ballet (BAFOCHI).
Seminar at the Chilean College of Engineers
On Monday, April 15, the meetings continued with presentations by international speakers on uncertainty. Experts discussed topics such as direct lithium extraction, business models to stimulate new economic activities in post-mining areas, and the Chilean mining sector outlook for 2024.
Present were Rodrigo Dupuoy, President of Sorcia Minerals for Latin America, with his talk “Direct Lithium Extraction: Facts, Not Words”; Carlos Urenda, General Manager of the Mining Council, with his presentation “Chilean Mining Sector 2024: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats”; and the presence of Anglo American’s President, Patricio Hidalgo, who presented “Anglo American: Transforming the Way of Mining – ‘Los Bronces’ New Stage: LBI.” Due to the presence of foreign delegations, all presentations were conducted in English.
Visit to Minera Las Cenizas, Cabildo
On Tuesday, the 16th, activities continued with a visit to Minera Las Cenizas, courtesy of its General Manager Cristian Argandoña. The WMC President, Marek Cała, expressed his satisfaction and admiration for the management of operations, as well as the company’s remediation efforts and community engagement activities, highlighting it as an example for mining both in Chile and internationally.
The visitors were welcomed by the Operations Manager, Hugo Adrián, who began the visit with an introductory briefing. Afterwards, the groups were divided to tour the underground mine and the plant, concluding the visit in the tailings area.
The delegates expressed deep gratitude for the warm welcome they received from the workers at Las Cenizas throughout the various parts of the tour. They were also bid farewell with a traditional Chilean barbecue held in the forest area, which has been restored with native species.
Visit to the University of Chile
On Wednesday, the 17th, the International Organizing Committee of the World Mining Congress concluded its meeting in Chile with a visit to the iconic Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Chile. Around midday, the committee members arrived at the university campus, accompanied by the president of the Chilean Chapter, Manuel Viera.
The visit to the Department of Mining Engineering was led by its Director, Gonzalo Montes-Atenas, who presented the department’s history and organizational structure, along with current innovations in sustainability, inclusion, and diversity.
Then, Professor Montes guided a tour through the hallways and iconic classrooms of the two FCFM campuses, concluding with visits to the various academic laboratories where they implement the use of technological machinery in accordance with international ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards.
The IOC-WMC members praised the Faculty’s infrastructure, the university’s equipment, and the high academic standards it upholds internationally.
Conclusions
Concluding the final activity of the 105th IOC WMC 2024 Meeting, the President of the Chilean Chapter, Manuel Viera, stated, “We can say that the objective of consolidating Chile’s position as a key player in the global mining industry was achieved, laying the groundwork for greater international collaboration in the coming years, as well as the possibility of hosting a World Mining Congress in Chile.”
We must highlight the collaboration between various state and private organizations that made this event possible, including sponsorships from the Ministry of Mining of Chile, ProChile, Mining Council, SONAMI, Chilean Mining Foundation, Chilean Mining Chamber, Institute of Mining Engineers of Chile, and the Chilean College of Engineers. Likewise, companies such as Achilles, Workmed, Metaproject, Cosapi, and Soquimich sponsored the event. Special recognition goes to Minera Las Cenizas for coordinating the site visit, Transportes Hualpén for facilitating transportation to the mine, and Workmate for supporting participant accreditation for the dinner and seminar.
What is the IOC/WMC?
The acronym IOC/WMC stands for the International Organizing Committee of the World Mining Congress, a permanent body that meets annually to manage the organization of the World Mining Congress. Its purpose is to bring together industry leaders, government experts, and academics to discuss the latest developments, share best practices, and address the key challenges facing the global mining industry. This event serves as an invaluable platform for exchanging knowledge, establishing strategic collaborations, and exploring emerging opportunities in the sector. The first WMC was held in 1958 in Poland, and the most recent took place in 2023 in Australia.
Who are the members of the Chilean chapter?
President
Dr. Manuel Viera Flores – CEO of Metaproject (Former President of the Chilean Mining Chamber)
Vice President
Vice President Carlos Delgado – Metallurgical Civil Engineer – International Consultant
Director
Francisco Lecaros – President of the Mining Foundation of Chile
Director
Gastón Fernández – Lawyer and Specialist in Mining Law from the University of Chile
Director
Eleonora Widzyk-Capehart – Principal Scientist at MSTRS
Director
Andrzej Zablocki (deceased) – Senior Adviser and Mining Consultant
- Contacts:
Director of Communications and Marketing - Luis Fernández
Lfernandez@metaprojectgroup.com | +56953331812
