Resource Conservation short course

Ensuring optimal use of ore reserves is the focus of a Resource Conservation short course being presented by the UQ Sustainable Minerals Institute for IM4DC in December.

Focused on resource conservation and the role of government, the program will give an overview of key concepts, methods and case study examples in the field of resource conservation as applied to the mining sector to enable participants to better work with companies while understanding their government’s role.

It is aimed at senior government officials with responsibility for the management of resource conservation policies and regulations.

Participants from the governments of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Fiji, will share their own experiences and operating contexts. Their contributions will inform both the material presented and the design of the learning activities.

The themes explored over the week will aim to address the question of ‘How to ensure mining companies adhere to best practice in resource/ reserve declaration and conduct their operations in a way that fully utilises the resource’. Full utilisation of the resource includes but is not limited to consideration of:

  • Ore/waste determination; consideration of risk and price sensitivity
  • Mining and processing recovery; ensure appropriate exploration, mining and milling techniques are employed to fully realise the resource
  • Management of marginal reserves; both under current conditions and future optionality.

Site visits, reflective activities and group discussions are also integrated into the program. The IM4DC online community of practice will enable participants to continue to collaborate after the program has ended.

This short course program was developed in collaboration with the Education and Training Agency of the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. Indonesian mining law addresses resource conservation and requires competence amongst government officials in the field. The collaboration has enabled participants from other nations also to be trained in resource conservation oversight.