Minemax is a major sponsor of Orebody Modelling and Strategic Mine Planning SMP 2014 at the Hyatt Regency in Perth, Western Australia, November 24-26. The company will also be contributing through a paper, short course and the exhibition. Orebody Modelling and Strategic Mine Planning SMP 2014 is a three-day international symposium that highlights the latest advances, technologies, practices and concerns in the field. Since the outstanding success of the last two symposia in 2004 and 2009, the world has changed in very important ways. In 2014, under the theme of globally optimising mineral supply chains the conference will examine whether our approaches are adequate to manage these emerging challenges – stressing the uncertainty in supply (orebodies being mined) and demand (markets), while seeking risk management and enhanced performance.

The event will address core issues and relevant challenges faced by the industry today. These start from examining possible changes in objectives for modelling and planning, extend to the recognition of a need for new mineral supply chain optimisation frameworks, and continue with the suitability of existing technologies and research and development needed.

The symposium will also feature:

•Case studies of strategic mine planning in major operations and mining complexes

•A forum on Strategic mine planning in a changing world.

Leon Blackwell from Minemax’s Perth office will present a paper entitled Capital Expenditure Modelling for Strategic Mine Scheduling. This paper addresses powerful modelling techniques for Capex including capacity degradation, precedences between Capex options and mutually exclusive Capex options. Matt LaBonte from the Denver office will be one of the presenters of a short course entitled Strategic risk management and optimization in mine design and production scheduling: From single mines to mining complexes and value chains given uncertainty.