MAXAM
"Sustainable development of the extractive industry is crucial for both the evolution of the sector and the welfare of society"
2016.07.04
Press room - News - "Sustainable development of the extractive industry is crucial for both the evolution of the sector and the welfare of society"
José Fernando Sánchez-Junco, Chairman and CEO of MAXAM, chaired the table on the International Overview of the Industry in the 3rd edition of the "Sustainable Development of the Metallurgical Mining Industry" sessions organised by CONFEDEM
Representatives from businesses, universities and the public sector met in the main hall of the Higher Technical School of Mining and Energy Engineering (ETSIME) of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) in order to offer their different perspectives on the sustainable development of the metallurgical mining sector.José Fernando Sánchez-Junco, Chairman and CEO of MAXAM, chaired the table “International Overview of the Metallurgical Mining Industry", which analysed the current state of the market. Sánchez-Junco started the session by stating his belief that the mining sector has the “most stringent standards in terms of risk prevention and occupational safety”, and that mining companies often implement “standards which go beyond the legal requirements in the countries where they operate”.
The table, made up of Audra Walsh, Director General of Minas de Aguas Teñidas (MATSA), Mark Rachovides, President of Euromines, José Luis Tejera, Director of the Atlantic-Cooper-ETSIME Chair, Elena Laburu, Investment Manager of the Australian Trade Commission, and Isidro García, Trade Commissioner of the Embassy of Canada to Spain, focused on the recent drop in metal prices and the current situation of the global mining industry.
Audra Walsh opened the session with a short presentation on MATSA and indicated her absolute commitment to health and safety, with the ultimate goal being to ensure "zero accidents". Elena Laburu then referred to the “opportunities Australia offers for the mining industry” and stressed “the importance of uranium in the Australian extractive industry, even without the country having nuclear energy”.
Mark Rachovides spoke of the possible consequences for the mining industry of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union, stating that “mining must be a part of the future of Europe, we must ensure better coordination between member states in order to achieve optimal results as part of the Union”. José Luis Tejera used his speech to stress the “essential role of raw materials in society”, a comment which Isidro García extrapolated to Canada by stating that “80% of Canada's mining production is exported”.
At the end of the session, Sánchez-Junco summarised the main conclusions of each speaker, stating that “mining is one of the most competitive sectors and has some of the most stringent standards in the world in terms of safety, prevention and environmental protection”, and also expressed his belief that “sustainable development of the extractive industry is crucial for both the evolution of the sector and the welfare of society”.
The event was brought to a close by Cristina Cifuentes, President of Madrid Regional Government, who stressed the importance of meetings such as this in order to know the current situation of the sector and the arguments for its sustainability, competitiveness and future development.
MAXAM – www.maxam.net
MAXAM is an industrial and services group which carries out its activity on a global level, developing, manufacturing and marketing blasting solutions for mining, quarries and infrastructure; cartridges and powder for recreational hunting and products and services for the defence sector. It also provides critical raw materials for nitro-chemical activities, such as energetic nitrocellulose and ammonium nitrate, both for internal use by MAXAM and for sale to external third parties.
MAXAM, founded by Alfred Nobel in 1872, ended financial year 2015 with turnover amounting to 1.115 billion euros. Its activity covers leading mining areas all around the world, with manufacture facilities in more than 45 countries and sales in over 100 countries on all five continents, and over 6500 employees.
For further details:
Lucas Ferreira
MAXAM
Communication Department
91 722 01 00
lferreira@maxam.net
Louis Trollope
MAXAM
Communications Technician
91 722 01 00
ltrollope@maxam.net
