LESLEY WARREN, DIRECTOR, MINING FUTURES, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
The 2024 Global Water in Mining Summit was, yet again, an extraordinary gathering of participants with a shared commitment to transforming water use by the sector.
It is great to see the growth of this meeting, largely by word of mouth from when it started four years ago. Water in Mining has rapidly emerged as the meeting to attend to participate in real discussions with practitioners at the evolving frontlines of water management and stewardship.
Water, the blue thread (thanks BHP!) that connects us all, runs through every aspect of mining and provides a shared connection point for many conversations, both inside and outside the fence. The growing global water crisis underscores the need for a different conversation; a more inclusive one that focuses on a broader value system recognizing water’s profound environmental, spiritual, and cultural importance. The hallmarks of the Global Water in Mining Summit are thoughtful presentations, panel discussions and audience inclusive conversations not afraid to go deep on specifics (successes and failures) that include these dimensions.
Greater inclusive participation by Indigenous and First Nations as well as regulators this year, broadened the discussion of water more comprehensively across this broader value set, contextualized with evidence-based presentations and panel discussions. Topics ranged from how to identify, adopt and operationalize best practices in water management, to experiences in how companies and communities are developing partnerships that deliver positive outcomes, to how companies are creating decision-making frameworks that operationalize water stewardship; to innovative technology development and novel research paving transformative ways to improved performance. The Summit always leaves me energized and inspired by the willingness to meaningfully share and collaborate, as well as excited to see the real advances that are happening. I look forward to seeing everyone again hopefully next year in Montreal!
Eduardo Marquez, Doctoral researcher in Mine Closure Geochemistry, University of Saskatchewan
The Water in Mining Global Summit has quickly become one of my favorite conferences in the mining industry, showcasing not only industry best practices from some of the largest and most innovative mining companies, but also offering unique insights into major challenges that operations around the world are facing related to water security, water management and water quality.
I was especially glad to see a wider participation of regulators and First Nations in the 2024 edition, and hope that their involvement will continue to grow. I firmly believe that the challenges facing the mining industry are global and require not only a trans-disciplinary approach but also collaboration between mining companies, universities, research institutions, First Nations governments and communities, regulators, and consulting companies. Easier said than done, I know.
In any case, I was pleased to see such collaborations being formed in real-time during the conference, so I am keeping a positive outlook and hoping that people will follow through with their commitments to each other. Because that is what mining is all about. A commitment to each other, to source minerals responsibly by ensuring to protect human life and doing all that is possible to minimize the impact on the environment and maximize its ability to recover after mining operations cease.
