With its multidisciplinary and muti-industry character, Water in Industry 2017, First International Congress on Water in Industrial Processes, allowed for over 200 professionals from different spheres to gather and share experiences, innovations and best practices, establishing a path to support greater sustainability.
The congress took place between June 7 and 9 at the Hotel Grand Hyatt Santiago, and included two inaugural keynote lectures from Jan Busstra, Water and Marine Director from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment from the Kingdom of the Netherlands; and Carlos Estévez, Director of Dirección General de Aguas (DGA). The congress also included 63 total presentations, both plenary and technical, from companies as varied as Aguas Andinas, Concha y Toro Vineyard, ENAP, Minera Escondida, CCU, among others.
“The first version of Water in Industry demonstrated the growing interest from all industrial sectors to improve their water management as one of the primary objectives in the search for greater sustainability”, highlighted the professor from Universidad de Chile and Program Director for the Congress, Jacques Wiertz.
“We could see it through the different presentations that with a will and efforts it is possible to significantly reduce fresh water consumption in all processes, and the need to confront water management with a cyclical economic focus. This same approach came up in industries as varied as the beer industry, pig farming, refineries and wineries”, added the academic.
Likewise, Rolando Chamy, Director of the Curauma Biotechnology Nucleus from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso and co-organizer of the Congress, mentions that the majority of the presentations were associated to issues related to integral water management, incorporating concepts of circular economy. In this sense, he asserts that Water in Industry is important for the “change in paradigm, where water management is the natural point to begin applying aspects of the circular economy.”
Meanwhile, the General Manager of Aguas Andinas, Narciso Berberana, mentioned that “this Congress is of vital importance for what all of us can do as ambassadors of the cultural change to the relationship we have with water as a natural resource. On the other hand, it is a magnificent forum to learn of the contrast between companies, meaning the vision that the mining and agroindustry sectors have regarding specialist companies that could offer adequate solutions for each of their needs”
The first version of the Congress was organized by CRHIAM; NBC-PUCV; INCT-Aqua; SMI-CWiMI from the University of Queensland, and Gecamin.
Water in Industry 2018
Water in Industry seeks to establish itself as a multi-sectorial space where diverse experiences are shared about efficient management of water resources. For this purpose, the 2018 version of the congress is confirmed, where again professionals from different spheres can gather to be informed regarding the latest advances in innovation, economics, and sustainability of water management in industrial processes.
Both professionals praised the seminar’s ability for gathering industry leaders and commented that it is important to learn from the multiple experiences shown.
Minexcellence 2017 had over 220 participants, 43 technical presentations from 9 countries, 6 plenary presentations and an inaugural keynote given by Codelco’s CEO, Nelson Pizarro.
During the event, the third version of Minexcellence was launched, scheduled for March 21 to 23, 2018.
