NINETEENTH BALKAN MINERAL PROCESSING CONFERENCE
“NEW APPROACHES IN THE APPLICATION OF MINERAL PROCESSING”
The XIX Balkan Mineral Processing Congress was held for the first time in the Republic of Kosovo, from May 28–31, 2023, in Mitrovica, hosted at Hotel Palace, Shupkovc. This historic milestone marked Kosovo’s inaugural role as host in the long-standing tradition of the BMPC.
The Congress was co-organized by the Geoscientific Institute of Mineral and Waste Enrichment, Energy and Environment (IMPTEE) in Prishtina, under the leadership of Dr. Sc. Habib Basholli—Kosovo’s only mineral processing scientist—and the Faculty of Geosciences at Isa Boletini University in Mitrovica, represented by then-Dean Prof. Dr. Naser Peci.
The event was held shortly after the passing of Prof. Dr. Shyqeri Kelmendi, a respected and active member of the BMPC community, and was dedicated to his memory.
Under the theme “Mineral Processing in the Global Challenge,” the Congress brought together researchers, scientists, engineers, and industry professionals from Turkey, Kosovo, Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, South Africa, the United States, and other European countries. Prof. Jimmy Hendrix from the U.S. opened the Congress as the first honorary keynote speaker. A total of 50 scientific papers were submitted, and all were presented during the Congress across daily parallel plenary sessions.
MAJOR SCIENTIFIC TOPICS
- New technologies of mineral treatment and processing
- Crushing, milling, and classification (SAG, AG, HPGR), including modeling, optimization, and control in mineral processing systems
- Flotation — theoretical and practical approaches, reagents, and industrial applications
- Reprocessing of industrial waste, especially tailings retreatment
- Processing of base and precious metal ores
- New industrial projects and the future of lignite
- Operations and management of mineral processing plants
- The economy of mineral processing and the recovery rate
In addition to the 50 presentations, 20 abstracts were accepted, and their full papers were subsequently published. A total of 378 participants attended the congress and its associated activities. The event also welcomed representatives from the Kosovo Ministry of Economy and other state institutions, underscoring its importance on both scientific and governmental levels.
The post-congress technical tour provided participants with hands-on visits to key industrial and academic sites, including Trepça, the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK), Ferronikeli, and Isa Boletini University. These visits offered opportunities to observe and discuss active technologies and emerging academic innovations. Additionally, the Turkish delegation participated in a special tour of the chrome factory in Bulqizë, Albania.
The successful execution of this four-day congress—with full-board accommodation, parallel plenary sessions, cultural excursions, and broad international participation—highlighted Kosovo’s expanding role in regional and global efforts toward innovation in mineral processing, research collaboration, and academic exchange.
