MINING Media International’s (MMI) Regional Technical Conference (RTC) series continues this month with Mineral Processing in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Wednesday, September 21 and Thursday, September 22. RTC Mineral Processing at The Westin Hotel will look at technology surrounding ore processing.

The RTC events are aimed at educating and informing about technical advancements and innovations to help the mining industry optimise operations and improve productivity.

With the Indonesian Government seeking to provide value adding opportunities to the country’s abundant raw materials and the coal industry being stifled by low prices and reduced demand, the technical conferences come at an ideal time to benefit mining in Indonesia.

The conferences are an opportunity to present new technologies and showcase successful use in exploration, development and operational situations throughout the Asia Pacific. With the region having so much mining potential, the RTCs provide a scientific but practical platform to outline and discuss the use of new technologies and their application in the mining industry.

The RTCs are organised by Mining Media International (MMI), which publishes The ASIA Miner, and hosts the regular Coal Club Indonesia and Djakarta Mining Club networking events. RTC Mineral Processing, which is supported by Asosiasi Perusahaan Industri Pengolahan dan Pemurnian (AP3I), will be held in conjunction with a Djakarta Mining Club networking event on September 21.

The Indonesian Government is proceeding with mandatory domestic mineral processing to increase the value of mineral exports and preserve the country’s mineral resources. The restriction on exports of unprocessed minerals is stimulating investments in smelters, refineries and associated infrastructure, to create new job opportunities and revenue streams.

In 2016, the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal put smelter development as one of its priorities. As of December 2015, data from Directorate General shows 72 proposed smelter facilities to be developed by 89 mining business holders (IUPs) with 25 facilities reaching commissioning phase.

RTC Mineral Processing will highlight regulatory changes, domestic and overseas processed mineral demand and supply forecasts, strategic moves by IUPs holders to secure financing, updated smelting and processing technologies as well as infrastructure challenges in building smelters.

Speakers include Steven Brown, general manager of Business Development, PT Vale Indonesia, who will talk about the Indonesia’s mining law that has been resulted in several significant new investments, especially in nickel smelters; Jonatan Handojo, business development director, PT Indoferro, who will talk about progress of the NPI ramp-up, barriers to market growth and outlook for future production; and Alexander Barus, chief executive officer, Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park, who will talk about the current status of Morowali which is designed as a large integrated nickel facility.

Also speaking will be Rich Gilman, heavy-duty specialist, Flexco. His presentation will focus on optimizing the performance of belt conveyors. He will discuss the benefits of using mechanical fasteners to splice a belt for normal and emergency situations that will greatly reduce downtime and operational cost. He will address the importance of a properly squared and skived belt prior to mechanical splice installation, mistracking issues, and wear and tear.

Other speakers include Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPMP representative Thomas Trikasih Lembong, Economic Committee and National Industry (KEIN) representative Sutrisno Bachir, Indonesian Smelter Enterprises Association’s Prihadi Santoso, Feluwa’s Gerald Tychtl, PT Smelting’s Hirosho Kondo, Royal HaskoningDHV’s Ekke Oosterhuis, PT Delta Prime Steel’s Cholid Bawazier, PT Indotama Ferro Alloys’ Lawrence S Kurnia and Scantech’s Michael Edwards.