The organisations are to hold a series of workshops in the next few months to look into potential collaborative research projects with a focus on improving productivity, social and environmental performance and sustainable development.

SMI director Neville Plint called it an opportunity to formalise the institute’s long-standing relationship with BMA.

As an independent multi-disciplinary group with an in-depth knowledge of the minerals industry, we seek to work with our partners to find solutions to global challenges facing the sector,” he said.

Under the terms of the MoU, collaboration will occur in four ways, including collaborative research; joint meeting and workshops; institutional staff visits; and sharing of data, reports and materials.

The Sustainable Minerals Institute has an outstanding reputation internationally for its research into sustainable resource development, and this agreement will give BMA access to cutting edge learning in our field,” said BMA head of product integration Frans Knox.

We welcome the opportunity to build our relationship further, and look forward to working closely with SMI as we continue to strive for the highest standards of sustainability and technical excellence.