PERUMIN 2015 Welcomes Two Big Geosynthetics Presentations

In September 2014, Geosynthetica and its publisher, Minerva, began discussions with the organizers of the world’s largest mining event, PERUMIN 2015, on getting geosynthetics content into its technical program. Geosynthetics have traditionally been overlooked in mining conferences, despite the enormous presence of the materials in and impact they have on the sector. Geosynthetica proposed 8 topics and presenters as well as a short course to the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers (IIMP), which runs PERUMIN. While the short course could not be considered for the conference (due to the course consideration window having closed), IIMP requested to reopen discussion of a special course at a later date.
And, importantly, the technical committee invited and accepted two geosynthetics presentations.
This year’s installment marks the 32nd in the PERUMIN series. It will be held 21 – 25 September 2015 at the National University of San Agustin (UNSA) in Arequipa, Peru. Co-developed with a sister conference, EXTEMIN (a mining technology event), more than 100,000 attendees are expected.
On the technical program schedule will be a presentation regarding geocomposite performance in mining (authored by Aigen Zhao and Mark Harris of GSE Environmental) and a presentation on construction quality assurance (CQA) in lined facilities (led by Glen Toepfer of CQA Solutions).
Geosynthetica encourages geosynthetics professionals to consider taking part in the PERUMIN event, either through attendance or exhibiting (space permitting at this stage).
The geosynthetics field is immensely important to the economics and environmental performance of the mining industry. Heap leach, slope stability, access roads, tailings management, water conservation, raincoat liners, site closure: these are just some of the many solutions. They are a big reason that the “impossible” designs of one year become a reality the next. They are stories of engineering expertise and design options that need to be told more frequently.
The interaction with IIMP will continue beyond PERUMIN, and additional interaction with the Pan-American mining community will happen at GeoAmericas 2016 in Miami. (GeoAmericas 2016, the 3rd Pan-American Conference on Geosynthetics, is being managed by Minerva, publisher of Geosynthetica.net and Geosynthetica.net.br.)
Companies interested in being part of future industry outreach efforts or additional interaction with the PERUMIN conference can contact Elizabeth Peggs.