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Southern African Mine Water Conference 2026

Date	16 November 2026
Location	Glenburn Lodge Conference Venue
Resources	EWRP Technical Visit - 15 November 2026 28092026.pdf Guidelines for Authors SAIMM Conference Proceedings and SAIMM Journal 11122025.docx SAIMM Sponsorship Prospectus 18022026.pdf SAMWC 2026 Announcement 24082026.pdf

DOWNLOADS FOR REGISTERED DELEGATES


SILVER SPONSOR	GOLD EXHIBITOR SPONSOR

About The Conference

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM), in collaboration with the International Mine Water Association (IMWA), the Mine Water Division of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA-MWD) and Mintek, warmly invites you to the Southern African Mine Water Conference 2026, a premier gathering where science, technology – and sustainability intersect.

Guided by the theme “Let’s Connect,” this conference is more than an event – it’s a movement to bridge disciplines, foster innovation – and build resilient solutions for mine water management. Attendees will explore a wide spectrum of topics, from the complexity of mine water geochemistry to the transformative power of AI-driven modelling and simulation.

Discover how mining-influenced water (MIW) can be repurposed through circularity and value recovery and gain insights into the latest advancements in water treatment technologies and microbial processes that are reshaping environmental stewardship.

Whether you are a researcher, engineer, policymaker, or industry practitioner, this is your chance to engage with cutting-edge developments, share your expertise – and help shape a more connected future for mine water innovation.

registration fees

Early SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member	7 000,00
Early IMWA/WISA Member	7 000,00
Early Non SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member	8 000,00
SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member	8 000,00
IMWA/WISA Member	8 000,00
Non SAIMM/SAGA/GSSA Member	8 500,00
Author Registration	4 500,00
Students	1 000,00
Retired Member	1 000,00
Regional Academics	4 500,00

Early bird valid until 5 August 2026

Registration closing date: 11 November 2026. Please note late registrations will incur a R500 administration fee for registrations received after the closing date.

Group Booking
Group discount: Book and pay for three delegate and the fourth delegate attends for free

CALL FOR PAPERS/PRESENTATIONS

CALL FOR PAPERS/PRESENTATIONS

Prospective authors are invited to submit short abstracts of not more than 500 words. Abstracts should consist of 4 paragraphs describing the presentation’s significance, the methods used, the key results and their application as well as implications.

Authors of accepted abstracts will be required to submit a full paper for peer review and publication in the conference proceedings. A presentation only option will be considered.

Short Courses

Hydrogeological Tracer Techniques for Ground, Surface and Mine Water

15 November 2026

Full Day Short Course 08:00-16:30

Glenburn Lodge and Spa, Muldersdrift

Prof Dr Christian Wolkersdorfer
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)

Workshop Need

Tracer tests are one of the few methods that enable the direct investigation of flow paths, residence times, mixing processes, and hydraulic connectivity in mining-influenced water (MIW) systems. In practice, however, they are underused and are often applied incorrectly. Common shortcomings include selecting an unsuitable tracer, insufficient planning, an inadequate sampling design, missing mass balances, and unrealistic interpretations of results.

Mine water systems differ fundamentally from natural aquifers and rivers. They are engineered, poorly documented, density-stratified, chemically reactive, and subject to operational and legal constraints. Applying standard tracer concepts without adaptation can produce misleading results. This workshop addresses this issue by providing a coherent framework that incorporates practical experience, proven methodologies and documented failure cases, all of which are tailored to mine water conditions.

Target audience

The target audience includes mine water practitioners and consultants, regulators and authorities involved in permitting and mine closure, researchers and postgraduate students in hydrogeology and mining-related disciplines, and operators of mine water treatment and discharge systems. Participants are expected to have basic hydrogeological knowledge, but prior tracer experience is not required.

Workshop programme and facilitators

The one-day workshop combines focused lectures with case studies and discussion.

Tracer principles for mine water (MIW) systems: conservative and reactive tracers, salts, dyes, isotopes and particles.
Test design and planning: objectives, scale, tracer mass calculation, density and temperature effects, safety and legal aspects.
Tracer tests in flooded underground mines: stratification, shafts, short-circuiting, and lessons learned.
Applications in treatment and discharge systems: residence times and bypass detection.
Sampling and evaluation: breakthrough curves, mass recovery and uncertainty.

Case studies and discussion

The workshop is led by Prof. Dr. habil. Christian Wolkersdorfer and includes additional case input from experienced colleagues from the International Mine Water Association (IMWA) network, subject to availability.

Expected outcomes and effect on the water sector

Participants will learn how to design, commission and critically evaluate tracer tests in mining contexts. For the water sector, this will lead to more consistent and defensible tracer method use, improved technical decision-making in remediation and mine closure, and reduced reliance on costly trial-and-error mine water management approaches.

Fees

Regular workshop	R 4 500
Student prices	R 2 000

Numerical Modelling in Mining 4 non-Modellers

15 November 2026

Half Day Shoty Course 08:00-12:30

Glenburn Lodge and Spa, Muldersdrift

Shuaib Dusty / Mr./ Senior Hydrogeologist

Overview

In mining, groundwater impacts everything; from pit slope safety and dewatering costs, plume migration, to environmental compliance and closure liabilities. To manage these risks, we rely heavily on numerical models. But you don’t need to be a modeler to require a deep understanding of them.

While focussing on the FEFLOW numerical modelling code, this short course is designed specifically for non-modelers, project managers, mine engineers, environmental specialists, and regulators. We strip away the complex mathematics and coding to focus on what matters most: giving you the tools to critically evaluate, intelligently question, and confidently make decisions based on groundwater models.

The course will provide the following:

08:00-08:45	*Registration with Meet and Greet*
08:45 – 09:00	Welcome: Dr. Andrea Barker
09:00- 09:30	Introduction
09:30 – 10:00	The different types of model code and their strengths and weaknesses
10:30 – 11:00	The assumptions and limitations inherent in each modelling code
11:00 – 11:15	*Tea and Refreshments or URGENT calls to Office Break*
11:15 – 11:45	The purpose and importance of calibration
11:45 – 12:15	The importance of scenario design The typical numerical report structure and linkages between section
12:15 – 12:30	What numerical models can do and can't do!
12:30 – 13:00	Pannel Q&A (Mr. Shuaib Dusty, Mr. Mihai Muresan and Ms Preanna Chaudhary)

The above programme will include a real world example of a recent project completed by SLR Consulting’s modelling team.

The course will be presented by Mr. Shuaib Dusty, Senior Hydrogeologist in the SLR Consulting Team and one of the principal modellers. He will be supported by Mr. Mihai Muresan, Principal Modeller for the Q&A session

Fees

Regular workshop	R 2 000
Student prices	R 500

Southern African Mine Water Conference 2026

About The Conference

registration fees

Topics to be Covered

CALL FOR PAPERS/PRESENTATIONS

Technical Visit

Short Courses

Fees

Overview

Fees

Sponsorship

Contact