UMaT begins biennial international mining and mineral conference in Tarkwa

The second University of Mines and Technology (UMT) Biennial International Mining and Mineral conference has begun in Tarkwa on the theme; “Innovation in mining and mineral processing: expanding the frontiers of technology.”

Prof. Daniel Mireku Gyimah, Vice Chancellor of the UMT, said the university had a vision of becoming a center of excellence in both Ghana and Africa.

It aims to conduct a cutting edge research and producing world class professionals for mining, petroleum and allied industries and that it is motivated by the abundant mineral resources in Ghana.

Prof. Mireku Gyimah said the country had been exploiting mainly gold, diamond, bauxite, manganese, salt, gravel and to some extent, oil and gas and other minerals like iron, limestone, marble, copper, kaolin, mica, silica, lithium, among others are yet to be exploited.

He said exploiting these untapped mineral resources in an environmentally friendly manner in order to prevent environmental damage and maximize the socio-economic benefits of mining had become a major challenge.

Prof. Mireku Gyimah said the university, therefore, instituted the biennial conference two years ago, to address the major challenge of how to exploit these untapped mineral resources.

The four-day conference is a platform for academics and professionals in the mining, petroleum and allied industries to share their views and experiences on how to address these challenges.**