The 54th International October Conference on Mining and Metallurgy (IOC M&M 2023) was held from October 18th to 21st at the Hotel “Jezero” on the Bor Lake, organised by the Technical Faculty in Bor in collaboration with the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Bor.
The traditional October conference was opened by the dean of the Technical Faculty in Bor, Prof. Dr Dejan Tanikić, who welcomed numerous participants from both the country and abroad, as well as representatives from various institutions, companies, associations, and organisations that supported this year’s conference. The dean emphasised that the International October Conference is a scientific event with a long tradition, aiming to present the latest findings and promote research in the fields of mining, metallurgy, and related disciplines.
Prof. Dr Ljubiša Balanović, the chairman of the organising committee, highlighted that the conference program was rich and diverse, including two plenary lectures, five invited lectures, company presentations, oral and poster sessions, professional tours, a varied exhibition, and memorable social events. At the heart of this event lies our strong commitment to sustainable development in the mining and metallurgy sector. We are dedicated to researching environmentally friendly methodologies, responsible resource extraction, and state-of-the-art technologies that reduce the industry’s impact on the environment and improve the well-being of local communities.
The conference proceedings included 129 papers authored by individuals from universities, research institutes, and industry in 22 countries. The conference received financial support from the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation. Sponsors, donors, exhibitors, and friends of the conference also contributed to its success. Companies that supported and significantly assisted in organising the conference included as Platinum Sponsors: Serbia Zijin Mining, Serbia Zijin Copper, and Copper Mill Sevojno; as Gold Sponsors: HBIS Group Serbia and Dundee Precious Metals; as Silver Sponsor: Trokut test; as Exhibitors: Labtim, Altium International, Meris, FMT, Refratec, Metalurg, Krug International, Scan, and Winery Monastery Bukovo; Friends of the Conference are: Donau Lab, Doncafe, Lola Institute, and the “Dipl. Eng. Boško Injac” Foundation.
Great appreciation was extended to all the authors who contributed to the continuity of this conference, the members of the scientific and organising committees, reviewers, chairpersons, speakers, and all participants and guests for their support.
Within the International October Conference, the 8th International Student Conference of Technical Sciences, took place from October 20th to 21st. Awards in honour of Professor Dragana Živković for the best student papers were presented for outstanding student presentations. The award for the best oral presentation went to Marija Kovač from the University of Novi Sad, and the award for the best poster presentation was given to Tamara Tasić from the University of Belgrade. The evaluation criteria included research creativity, originality, and presentation. Additionally, an award was presented for the plenary lecture by Dr. Yuhui Zhang from the Xiamen University of Technology, China.
Dr Ana Kostov warmly welcomed all attendees on behalf of the co-organiser, the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy in Bor. She expressed her best wishes for a successful event and emphasised the importance of this occasion.
The General Director of Serbia Zijin Copper, Qiu Guozhu, warmly greeted the conference participants, emphasising that the mining and metallurgy sectors face numerous challenges related to technological advancements, environmental concerns, and social responsibility. Qiu Guozhu highlighted the company’s commitment to building a modern, environmentally conscious, and sustainable mining enterprise to contribute to a better community and future.
On behalf of Serbia Zijin Mining, the Assistant General Director, Branko Rakočević, welcomed participants from both the country and abroad. He highlighted that Serbia Zijin Mining had achieved significant results in two years of operation, becoming a business entity with substantial exports and revenues in the Republic of Serbia. He noted that the company is recognised as a leader in innovation in the mining industry, environmentally sustainable mining, and socially responsible business practices.
Participants in the 54th International October Conference on Mining and Metallurgy had the opportunity to visit the metallurgical facilities of Serbia Zijin Copper and the largest mine within the company on October 20th. They toured the open-pit mine and the new “Veliki Krivelj” flotation plant, as well as the smelter and the new electrolysis facility. On October 21st, conference participants visited the main facilities and plants of Serbia Zijin Mining (the new Dispatch Centre, Paste Fill, Mineral Processing Plant, and the new Laboratory Testing Center).
Conference participants expressed their satisfaction with the organisation of the conference and accompanying events, noting that all details were carefully planned and the teamwork of the organisers was exceptional. Most participants highlighted that the conference and professional visits were highly informative and valuable for their professional development. They especially praised the diverse topics covered during the conference and noted that they gained new insights and knowledge. All of these positive comments attest to the conference’s great success in the scientific and professional community.
