May 1, 2025, Windhoek, Namibia – Knight Piésold Southern Africa was privileged to co-host the 27th International Conference on Paste, Thickened and Filtered Tailings (Paste 2025), held on 8–10 April 2025 in Swakopmund, Namibia. Organised by the Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG), a not-for-profit mining research centre based at the University of Western Australia, this annual conference attracted over 280 delegates from around the world—bringing together researchers, engineers, consultants, and mine operators to exchange insights on tailings dewatering innovations and shape the future of tailings management.

Technical Leadership and Contributions

As the main Collaborating Organisation, Knight Piésold made significant contributions to the conference, playing a key role in developing the technical programme and workshops. Veronique Daigle, Director at Knight Piésold Namibia, served as chair of the conference and editor of the conference proceedings, together with co-editors Andrew Copeland, Mining Technical Director at Knight Piésold Southern Africa, Prof. Andie Fourie of the ACG, and Prof. Charles MacRobert of Stellenbosch University.

A day before the conference, Knight Piésold led a well-attended, full-day technical workshop called “Introduction to Tailings Management Fundamentals and Dewatering Strategies for Surface Disposal.” The workshop, which drew in 65 participants, was co-hosted with industry leaders from Paterson & Cooke, Fraser Alexander, Vietti Slurrytec, SRK Consulting, and Anglo American, and covered critical topics, including:

• Design principles of tailings dewatering systems
• Geotechnical and mineralogical considerations
• Placement and operational practices
• Pumping and thickening
• Regional and global case studies

Knight Piésold presenters, including Daigle, Copeland, and Justin Teixeira, Principal Civil Engineer at Knight Piésold South Africa, shared practical insights and sparked dynamic technical discussions.

During the conference, Daigle delivered the welcome and closing addresses, and Copeland moderated sessions 15 and 16, which focused on surface disposal and tailings closure. Copeland also participated in a panel discussion on “How will the tailings solutions of the future be impacted by the industry’s emphasis on ESG and the drive for innovation and repurposing of mine waste.”

At the exhibition hall, Cilliers Mostert, Managing Director at Knight Piésold Namibia, welcomed delegates to the company’s stand, showcasing recent tailings design innovations and case studies in paste, thickened, and filtered tailings systems. Delegates gained insights into how Knight Piésold supports safe, cost-effective, and sustainable tailings solutions throughout the full project lifecycle.

After the conference, Daigle and Copeland also contributed to the workshop called “Filtered Tailings Management – Planning, Design, Construction, and Operation,” speaking on a stacking development plan case study and the drivers to filtered tailings design, respectively.

Conference Highlights

Paste 2025 featured keynote presentations and technical sessions by global leaders and experts from universities, mining companies, and consultants in filtration, mineralogy, and paste backfill.

The conference started with opening speaker Eric Barnard of B2Gold, who called for smarter approaches to sustainability and mine closure planning. This was followed by a keynote address by Dr. Priscilla Nelson of the Colorado School of Mines, who likened the health of the mining industry to human health, urging better diagnostic tools and meaningful tailings monitoring frameworks.

On the second day, Dr. Ryan Veenstra of Gold Fields delivered a keynote address on expanding QA/QC systems for paste backfill operations. On the third day, invited speaker Andrea Lopez Schmidt of Anglo American explored new dewatering strategies by separating coarse and fine tailings for more effective reuse and beneficiation.

Also on the second day, an exclusive dinner was held on the dunes of the Namib Desert—an unforgettable evening of cultural celebration, connection, and collaboration under the stars.

The conference concluded with two focused workshops on paste backfill and tailings filtration, reinforcing the importance of continuous learning and the evolution of best practices in mine waste management.

Paste 2026

“We are delighted to have collaborated with the ACG, Stellenbosch University, and Namibia University of Science and Technology in delivering a truly successful, world-class event,” said Daigle. “This conference not only demonstrated developments in tailings management practices but also showcased Namibian hospitality and the Southern African mining industry on the global stage.”

As the industry continues to evolve toward more responsible tailings management, Knight Piésold remains committed to driving innovation, sustainability, and safe practices across the mining industry. Building on the momentum generated at Paste 2025, the company looks forward to participating in Paste 2026—further strengthening global collaboration and advancing sustainable solutions for the mining industry's most complex challenges.

Paste 2026, co-hosted by ACG and Paterson & Cooke, will be held on 14-16 April 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal.