MAXAM, a global technology company specialised in the design, development, manufacture and application of energetic materials, is today hosting the biannual meeting of the European SLIM Project at its facilities in Galdácano. This initiative, which forms part of the European Commission “Horizon 2020” programme, seeks to develop new sustainable mining solutions with a low environmental impact. Representatives of the thirteen companies and institutions taking part in the project will present the main advances reached in the first half of the year in the different lines of work.
The SLIM (Sustainable Low Impact Mining) Project seeks to develop a cost-effective and sustainable solution for the mining of small mineral deposits. To do so, work is being carried to develop a new generation of explosives and an advanced blast design software based on improved rock mass characterisation and fragmentation models. This new mining solution will enable the feasible exploitation of minerals deposits that are not currently viable due to their small size and the corresponding high environmental impact. This will increase the supply of these European-mined raw materials, which is especially relevant in the current context in which some deposits have become exhausted and certain minerals have increased in price.
MAXAM, a global leader in blasting solutions for mining, quarries and public works, brings its experience working around the world with customers and projects of all kinds. The company leads the working group whose mission is to develop an explosive and pumping equipment that enable the blast characteristics to be adapted on-site to suit the varying rock conditions. Furthermore, the company is working on an additional module for RIOBLAST, its blast design software, to incorporate the characteristics of the new explosive.
The technologies developed for SLIM will be validated in two mines in Spain and one in Austria in order to ensure their technical superiority compared to the options currently available, as well as their ability to be integrated into mining activities. The environmental, social and economic impacts of the mining projects are also being studied as part of the SLIM Project, and in addition to the technical solution that is developed. To do so, one of its lines of work involves selecting five European cities that coexist with operations of this kind to interview to their inhabitants and to identify the social benefits deriving from the mining activity. Similarly, the project will become involved with local associations and key social agents, with whom dialogue will be opened, information will be exchanged and briefing sessions will be given.
SLIM is led by the Technical University of Madrid and made up of another eleven organisations and companies from Austria, Denmark, Sweden, France and Spain, in addition to MAXAM: 3GSM, Benito Arno e Hijos, Bureau de Recherches Géoloquiques et Minières, VA Erzberg GmbH, Gate2Growth, Luleå Tekniska Universitet, Minpol, Montan Universität Leoben, Minera de Órgiva, Technische Universitaet Graz and ZABALA Innovation Consulting.