Introduction

A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided

Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins In 2017, the International Mining Forum (IMF) conference, an initiative of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Paged a visit in Jastrzębie Zdrój (IMF JSW 2017). Its key theme was the Mine of the Future - new problems and solutions according to John Maynard Keynes: “The difficulty lies not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones.”

We invite you to participate in another, 15th edition of this conference. The forum this time is following the motto: Safety and efficiency of exploitation against the challenges of industry 4.0, which will take place on April 11-12, 2019 in Katowice.

According to its principles, the IMF 2019 shall constitute a platform for exchange of scientific ideas and practical engineering solutions on the international forum participated by representatives of mining countries from around the world.

The leading theme of the conference will comprise the presentation of changes witnessed by Polish and world mining at the turn of the century, as well as the challenges faced by mining at the beginning of the 21st century. This in particular concerns the implementation and use of modern technical and IT solutions in mines, employment of extensive information measures regarding management of mineral resources and the processes of obtaining them.

The main organizer of the conference is the Association of Engineers and Technicians of Mining - Rybnik branch. JSW Innowacje will be the program partner as in 2017, while the host will be Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa.

IMF 2017 was an overview of ideas, concepts, ideas and solutions that will allow for a technological leap. The goal of IMF 2019 is to answer which of these actions has already been taken.

The main subjects of IMF 2019 are:

  • intelligent ICT systems; digitization - big data - data mining,
  • automation and robotization in the underground exploitation of deposits,
  • activities to improve safety of work and exploitation of deposits in circumstances of natural hazards as well as safety management systems in underground mining during the period of comprehensive digital transformation,
  • prospective techniques and technologies for sinking shafts,
  • coal - coke - gas - hydrogen and carbon nanostructures as a response to the challenges of circular economy system,
  • “second life” of post-mining areas,
  • automation in the process of preparatory works,
  • applying modern technologies in coal processing processes.

The IMF 2019 conference will be held at the International Congress Center in Katowice and in the lecture halls of the JSW mines.  

One particularly attractive point of the agenda will comprise the opportunity arranged for the IMF participants to experience empirically the specificity of operation of the JSW mines, including the applied exploitation technique and technology.

The International Mining Forum is continuing the cooperation already commenced and, similarly as in 2017, makes an occasion for establishing new direct business contacts, recognizing sales markets and investment conditions, and consolidating good relations between countries.