Oil, Gas, Mining, and Chemicals Past Conferences

Women and Mining, Madung, Papua New Guinea, June 2005

Small-Scale Mining 2004, Johannesburg, South Africa, September 9th, 2004

CASM - Short Course on Mercury in Artisanal Gold Mining, June 27, 2004, Canberra, Australia

Poland Women in Mining Conference and Stakeholder Workshop, June 8, 2004, Silesia, Poland

20th BRGM Conference on African Geology, June 2-4, 2004, Orleans, France

Sustainability for Extractive Industries, May 27-28, 2004, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Nigeria Mining Stakeholder Workshop, April, 2004, Abuja, Nigeria

CASM-ILO Workshop Child-Labor in Small-Scale Mining, April 28-30, 2004, Washington, DC, USA

PDAC 2004 International Convention, March 7-10, 2004, Toronto, Canada

Investing in African Mining/INDABA2004, February 10-12, 2004, Cape Town, South Africa

Oil and Gas Sector Review Workshops in Pakistan: Disseminaton of Findings & Conclusions December 17-18, 2003

Energy, Environment, and Population (EAP) Program (OLADE, COICA, ARPEL y el Banco Mundial, October 20-22, 2003 in Ecuador

Sustainable Development of Mining in Finland, November 17, 2003.

CASM Annual General Meeting, September 7-10, 2003, Elmina, Ghana.

China Mining 2003, October 27-28, 2003, Yunnan, China. Agenda and speeches.

Mineral Resource Development in Africa, presented by George Coakley of the United States Geological Survey, October 14, 2003. The presentation is available upon request.

National Oil Companies, 2003

Women in Mining, Madung, August 2003

Workshop on Petroleum Revenue Management, October 22-24, 2002, Washington, DC.

Proceedings from Oslo Conference on Gas Flaring, April 15/16 2002

Local Management of Mineral Wealth Workshop—June 10-11, 2002

Seminar on the Contribution of the Mining Sector to the Rapid Economic Recovery of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, April 22-23, 2002 - At the request of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and of a number of mining investors, the World Bank Group assisted the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons to put together an investors' conference. The main topics discussed in the seminar include: the role of the mining sector in the Congolese economy; the new mining code and mineral policy of the Congolese government; the restructuring of state-owned enterprises; and the financing of mining projects in the DRC. A workshop on mining regulations was also held on April 24, 2002.

Mining and Community Development in India.  A workshop in Jaisalmer, India, from Jan. 31  to Feb, 1, to identify how the development of mining projects can promote community development through both community, local and federal government involvement in the development of projects, particularly in the less developed and tribal areas in India.  Workshop participants will discuss the issues, in the context of the process of consultation, that are of importance to communities in the development of mining projects and consider how the objectives of the mining project developers can be reconciled with the communities' interests.

Finance, Mining & Sustainability:  A Round Table Workshop in Paris, organized by UNEP, UNEP's Finance Initiative, the World Bank Group's Mining Department, and the MMSD project, on January 14-15, 2002. A summary of the outcomes of the workshop will soon be posted here.

Laos: Mining Workshop in Vientiane, Lao PDR, Feb. 6 -8, 2002 - The Lao PDR Government is keen to develop the mining sector in a sustainable manner as one of the strategic sectors for the country's economic diversification and growth.  The workshop was one of the first steps to help the Government achieve this goal.  The objective of the workshop was to discuss best practices in legal and regulatory framework, fiscal aspects and environmental and social management in the mining sector worldwide, with a view to creating a base for sustainable economic development through the mining sector.  The February 6 open forum was followed by sessions with the Government on February 7 and 8.

Sustainable Mining in Indonesia  - A public symposium, on October 8, 2001, in Jakarta (Sahid Hotel), sponsored by the Directorate General of Geology and Mineral Resources, Government of Indonesia, with support from the World Bank and the Indonesian Mining Association.

Policy Priorities for the Indonesian Mining Sector  - High-level workshop on October 9 and 10, 2001, in Jakarta, sponsored by the Directorate General of Geology and Mineral Resources, Government of Indonesia, with support from the World Bank and the Indonesian Mining Association, bringing together senior government officials and key decision makers, together with invited representatives of the mining industry, civil society and Non-Government Organizations

Improving the Investment Climate and Sustainability of Mining in China.  Roundtable sponsored by the Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR) of the People's Republic of China and The World Bank Group, and supported by The People's Government of Shaanxi Province, The Canadian Embassy in China, and AusAid, in X'ian, China, on September 20-22, 2001.

Finance, Mining and Sustainability, April 8/9, 2001-- A conference was held to bring together those who finance and insure private sector ventures in mining with those who operate them—to discuss whether and to what degree those who finance, insure, and trade in bonds in relation to mining operations are interested in the social and environmental impact of these operations.  The United Nations' Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the mining industry's Mining Minerals and Sustainable Development Project (MMSD) co-sponsored the event.  The conference attracted 120 participants from 18 countries around the world.  Speeches, conference proceedings and other information are progressively being made available at this site.

Mining Taxation: International Best Practices, April 4/5, 2000. This two-day seminar provided a survey of the tax regimes for the countries that have had most success in attracting private investment into mining, and raises the question of the need for a specific tax regime for mining. The building blocks of an "ideal" mining tax regime were analyzed and compared with the revenue requirements of Governments. Comparisons were drawn with the oil & gas sector. The issue of decentralization and deconcentration of public mining institutions based on fiscal revenues arising from the mining sector was analyzed, as well as ways of ear-marking part of these revenues to community-led priority investments.  The workshop was attended by about 80 participants from government agencies and other oorganizations involved in mining sector and taxation reform. Speeches, conference proceedings and other information will be available shortly at this site.

African Mining 2000 Symposium in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso, December 4 - 6, 2000

Since 1994, MIGA has organized annually a symposium on African Mining Investment and Business Opportunities. Now in its sixth offering, this Symposium brings together key African government decision-makers with representatives of mining companies, financial institutions and service providers worldwide. Delegations from 26 African countries and over 400 participants from the international mining community attended the previous Symposium, and a similar or higher number is expected in Ouagadougou this year.

The Symposium will consist of thematic presentations dealing with the current issues facing mining development in Africa, and country presentations dealing with the business climate and new mining investment opportunities. Presentations will be made by Ministers of Mines from African countries, mining company executives, international mining specialists, service providers, and officials of development and financial institutions. Delegates of  participating countries will be available for discussions in private meeting rooms, and many of the African countries will also have booths to facilitate networking and information exchange. Optional visits will be held after the Symposium, to mines and exploration areas.

The symposium was held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, at the Complex Ouaga 2000, a modern convention center used for many regional conferences. MIGA has also negotiated special rates at several hotels.  For further information on the technical program, exhibit booths, sponsorships, travel information, and other aspects of the Symposium, please contact MIGA (Mr. Mamadou Barry,  or Ms. Shantal Persaud, )

• Mining Policy Dialogue Round Table for the Preparation of a New Mining Code: Round Table Conference in Hanoi/Vietnam, October 17-18, 2000

Objectives of this Round Table Conference are to:

• Inform key government officials and other stakeholders in the sector of the dynamics and best practices of mining development and mining sector reform;
• Contribute to the definition of clear Government policies in respect of minerals sector development, including measures to attract foreign investment; and
• Devise a consistent Strategy to implement the policies and achieve the objectives, including the preparation of a new Mining Code.
   

Foreign Investment and Mining Development in Western China: Round Table Conference in Ürümqi, Xinjiang/China, October 10-11, 2000

Objective of the Round Table Conference wasto increase the awareness and focus on how to position Western China to attract foreign investment and create an investment environment that is conducive to sustainable mining development.  More specific aims of the event were to:

• Promote mutual understanding among World Bank Group, private players, and the local governments of the West Regions;
• Examine China's existing Mining Law with special focus on measures to attract private investment to West Regions;
• Strengthen the Government's ability to enforce the Mining Law at a National, Regional and Municipal levels; and
• Screen potential mining development projects in West Regions and promote project finance for potential mining projects;

Around 140 participants convened in Ürümqi on Oct 13-14th for the Roundtable Conference organized by The World Bank Group and Ministry of Land and Resources (MOLAR). With the theme of promoting foreign investment in West Regions of China, the conference centered its topics around (1) dialogues on West Development Initiatives and related new policies for mining investment; (2) introducing best international practices in mining; and (3) examining existing legal and fiscal regime,  and identifying constrains for mining investment. Participants came from central government, mining companies, provincial officials in West Regions, mining consultants, and WBG representatives.

Overall, participants considered the conference a success. Both provincial authorities and MOLAR appreciated the presentations.  MOLAR has expressed interest in completing sector reforms in order to create an attractive environment for domestic and foreign private investment.

Global Mining: Risks and Rewards for Developing Countries: Workshop at the Annual Meetings' Program of Seminars in Prague/Czech Republic, September 25, 2000

Mine Closure Workshop (March 1-3, 2000)

The aim of the workshop was to focus on the social and economic aspects of mine closure. The immediate objective of the workshop was to provide a forum for those engaged in mine closure to present their experiences and draw out lessons learned and best practices. The workshop included case study presentations from multinational corporations and examples on closure and restructuring from some of the state owned mines in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. The workshop also included a section on steps taken by government with regard to providing a legal and regulatory framework governing mine closure. It provided an opportunity for those managing closure to exchange and learn from each other's experiences and also incorporated a capacity building element that might be useful to those engaged in this work.

The final objective of the workshop was to compile a sourcebook that would draw out best practices for sustainable mine closure and illustrate them through the case studies presented at the workshop.  The Title of the Sourcebook is "Mine Closure and Sustainable Development".  It can be ordered through the Mining Journal: Email: books@mining-journal.com, web: www.mining-journal.com.

World Mining Ministers Forum 2000

The Government of Ontario, the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, and the World Bank organized a World Mining Ministers Forum in March, 2000 to coincide with the PDAC/CIIM "Mining Millennium 2000". The two day summit discussed current issues facing the sector. The Forum examined four broad themes: 1) knowledge management (geological surveys, GIS, EIS), 2) attracting investment (competition, investment requirements, governance, legal/fiscal reform), 3) community and small scale mining (resettlement, indigenous peoples, local communities, consultation processes, local economic benefits), and 4) minerals policies and sustainable development (environment issues, market access, safe use of minerals principles, re-cycling, etc.). A key element of the Forum was its interaction, it was not designed as a speeches only event but rather involved the maximum amount of discussion. After the opening plenary session the delegations broke into small workshops organized around the issues above. Summaries of the workshop discussions were presented at the final plenary conference and disclosed publically. The Forum attracted 350 persons: senior government officials, private companies, NGOs, and other interested parties in the international mining industry.

Mining and the Community for Asia and Pacific Nations.  Conference with the Metal Mining Agency of Japan (MMAJ)

The World Bank and the Metal Mining Agency of Japan (MMAJ) jointly organized a conference on "Mining and the Community for Asia and Pacific nations" in Papua New Guinea from 27 to 29 of July, 1998. The principal objective of the conference was to bring together representatives from all interested stakeholder groups - local community, mining companies, national governments, NGOs, academia, and international organizations - to discuss the current problems and challenges between mining and the community and point the way to good practice and possible new solutions. The conference addressed community related issues throughout the mine life cycle from exploration to post mine closure and included presentation on nine mines and projects from five countries - Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. The conference was well attended and attracted over 250 delegates from 16 countries.

The World Bank keeps dialogue with the Metal Mining Agency of Japan (MMAJ) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to explore the possibilities for collaboration in this region.