PROPOSED THEMES TO BE ADDRESSED AT MINEX CENTRAL ASIA 2014

Mining and Mineral exploration trends and developments  

•    Global downturn cycle in the mining industry. What are the mid- and long term prospects?
•    Impact of Foreign Direct Investment in the Socio-Economic Development of Central Asia’s states.
•    Market outlook for mining commodities – where are the growth opportunities? Examining future metal needs and how industry is developing strategies to secure supplies. 
•    The way forward for the Central Asia’s mining industry – growth strategies for optimised shareholder return.
•    Investor’s perspective on the state of the junior sector in Central Asia.
•    Investor’s perspective on business prospects and constraints in the mining sector in Central Asia 
•    Competition for Mineral Resources: supply/demand, regulation, taxation and investment.
•    Current role of state ownership of mineral resources in Central Asia. Forthcoming changes.
•    Government led programs and changes to boost Mineral Prospecting & Exploration in Central Asia. 
•    Exporting global mining and exploration experience to Central Asia. Can this be done and at what level?
•    Social licence to operate and other important developments for creating sustainable mining in the region.
•    Performance and benefits of social responsibility in the mining sector.
•    Review of tax and other regulatory incentives for extractive industries

Mining and exploration regulatory policies in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

•    Mining regulatory policies update and what it means for further mining development. 
•    To what extent have changes to the mining laws benefited domestic and foreign mining companies?
•    Overview of exploration and mining licences, permits and the application process. 
•    What are common barriers faced by mining companies and what could companies do to overcome them?
•    Assessing successful practices for negotiating the regulatory framework and the timely granting of licences and permits. 
•    Examining successful practices for securing mining tenure. 
•    Examining successful methods for settling disputes relating to mining and exploration in Central Asia. 
•    Assessing the role and proposed structures of state-private partnerships in the mining sector.

Development of mining and mineral exploration projects in Central Asia – commodity focus 

•    Gold, Platinum and Silver
•    Iron Ore
•    Cooper and non-ferrous metals
•    Uranium
•    Coal
•    Rare earths and metals
•    Industrial minerals
 
Improving operational efficiency – innovative mining  technologies and solutions 

•    Mining efficiency: automated technological and management solutions
•    Energy Efficiency in Kazakhstan’s Mining & Metals Sector – International perspective.
•    Mitigating transport and logistics challenges – Innovative transport technologies for mining industry
•    Modernising mining and ore-processing enterprises: practical experiences
•    Development of Low Grade Gold mine projects
•    New technical solutions and tools for mining and geological modelling.

•    Health and safety in mining: hazard and risk factor prevention practical solutions
•    Mines Design and Planning 
•    IT in Mine Engineering and Management
•    Drilling, Blasting and Excavation Operations
•    Resources and reserves reporting and economic modelling
•    Exploring in hazard and remote areas. Practical experiences.
•    Mining Equipment Selection and Automation
•    The value of geological data in forming a vibrant exploration and mining sector.
•    Efficient Reclamation, Mine Closure and Mining Waste Disposal Methods.
•    Domestic and international technologies and approaches of geological survey and mineral exploration.
•    Ecological Aspects of Mining Engineering and Mineral Processing.
•    Developing new projects in Central Asia – successful examples. 
•    Geological research and data evaluation practices 
•    Renewal of the mineral resources – exploration programs.
•    How could mining companies in Central Asia best adopt the most advanced exploration techniques and equipment to rapidly advance their projects?
•    Implementation and monitoring of crisis management strategies.
•    Mining project cost management from project planning to construction.
•    Risk factoring and benchmarking.  Corporate, environment, investment considerations.
•    Temporary suspension of low-profit mining projects – decision and implementation processes.
•    Adapting and implementing planning systems at mining and metallurgical enterprises. 
•    Best HR practices and challenges of developing effective training programmes to maximise the returns from mining projects. 
•    Evaluating the use of technology in Central Asian mining operations from a global perspective. 
•    Operational innovation: implementing the latest technologies to achieving optimal productivity of operations. 
•    Valuation of mineral resources – buying and selling side perspectives.
•    Waste dumps turnaround management. 
•    Latest International Developments in Underground Equipment Technology.
•    Information (IT) and Operational Technologies (OT) in the Mining Industry

Mining Finance

•    Future development trends in the mining capital markets.
•    Emerging sources of capital: Who and how?
•    Financing for mine developers – Structures, sources and availability
•    Private equity finance solutions and latest PE finance stories 
•    What types of projects are attractive to PE funds
•    Alternative Funding Models for Exploration Projects
•    Financing mineral exploration projects in Central Asia – recent case studies.
•    Mining finance solutions and strategies for start-up mining companies.
•    Preparing company for an international listing – practical considerations.

•    Prospects for raising capital on the domestic and International financial markets.
•    Mining project and structured financing solutions.
•    Do local and international lenders understand the needs of mining industry for modernisation, acquisitions, exploration and project development? Are they able to meet these needs?
•    What role do the state banks play to support the development of mining industry?

Mining Investment

•    Mining in Central Asia – assessing risks and rewards balance. 
•    Key mining investment trends and M&A developments in Central Asia. 
•    Analysing opportunities for cross-border investment in Central Asia. 
•    Foreign and domestic mining investor universe in Central Asia and emerging new players. 
•    Foreign acquisitions in Central Asia – the role and practical experiences.
•    Emerging investment opportunities and current investor sentiment in Central Asia. 
•    Analysing current government investment incentives offered in Kazakhstan and throughout Central Asia
•     What must mining companies do to regain investor appetite for the sector?
•    What investment strategies should companies implement to take advantage of a cyclical market
•    Divestments and acquisition strategies. Allocating capital for growth and acquisition of core high-margin assets
•    Preparing investment projects to ensure their appeal to potential investors. 
•    Preparing investment presentation. Which reporting standard to use?   
•    Mining project selection criteria used by mining companies and investors.
•    The role of China’s demand for metals supply in funding mineral resources development in Central Asia. 
•    The role of strategic partnerships to reduce investment risks.