World Mining Congress 2026 — Lima, Peru | June 24–26, 2026 Technical Program Introduction | Page 4 Environmental stewardship represents perhaps the greatest legitimacy challenge facing the mining industry today, and this track addresses it comprehensively across six sessions. The range of topics — from realtime hydrogeological modelling and tailings geotechnics to mine closure governance, decarbonization pathways, and biodiversity — reflects an industry that has moved well beyond compliance toward genuine integration of environmental thinking into operational and strategic decision-making. Digital Water and Environmental Intelligence: Advanced hydrogeological modelling, water stress projections for global mineral production, cemented paste backfill optimization, and integrated water resources management are examined. The session reflects the growing recognition that water scarcity is among the most material risks facing mining operations in arid and semi-arid regions. Tailings, Waste, Water and Closure: Seepage analysis for filtered tailings in high-precipitation Andean conditions, in-pit tailings storage as a sustainable closure solution, geosynthetic advances in closure covers, and waste rock commingling at Antamina are among the presentations. The Antamina case study, from one of the world's largest copper-zinc mines, located near the congress venue, is of particular relevance to the host country audience. Mine Closure and Post-Mining Reclamation: A legal governance framework for post-mining territories, the conversion of the Águas Claras pit into a world-class sports venue in Brazil, and the musealization of mining sites as a vehicle for heritage and economic revitalisation are presented — collectively making the case that mine closure, if planned from the outset, can create lasting positive legacies. Decarbonization, Electrification and Energy: CO₂ mineralization in underground mines, the transformation of the VA Erzberg iron ore mine from diesel to full electric operation, green cube reclamation technologies, and geothermal potential for decarbonizing Andean mining operations are among the highlights. These presentations collectively sketch a credible pathway toward deep decarbonization of mining operations. Managing Mine Residues and Nature-Positive Solutions: Dust suppression with biopolymeric reagents, satellite-based spatiotemporal monitoring of tailings facilities, acid mine drainage prediction under climateinduced hydrological shifts, and biodiversity as a core variable in the sustainability equation are presented. The nature-positive framing — moving beyond 'do less harm' to 'create net benefit for ecosystems’ is a significant conceptual evolution reflected strongly in this track. Track 4: Coal (32 presentations) The Coal track acknowledges that coal remains a significant part of the global energy mix in many emerging economies, while simultaneously engaging seriously with the transition challenges that the sector faces. Presentations span advanced mining technologies, methane management, post-mining repurpose, energy transition frameworks, and the difficult socioeconomic dimensions of coal phase-out. Chinese contributions are prominent, reflecting that country's technological leadership in mechanized longwall mining, including the world's first fully mechanized 10-metre longwall mining system in extrathick coal seams, large-diameter shaft drilling, and belt conveyor innovation. Polish and broader European presentations address coal mine methane abatement, ventilation air methane reduction, green hydrogen production from mine methane, and the socially complex process of coal phase-out — including a detailed case study from El Cesar, Colombia, on the conditions for a just socioeconomic transition. Track 5: Cross-Cutting Themes (28 presentations) The Cross-Cutting track addresses themes that transcend any single technical discipline and are fundamental to the industry's social license to operate. Five sessions cover responsible engineering, mine
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0Mzk2