15th International Symposium May 17-20, 2026. Beijing, China
The 15th International Symposium on Mining with Backfill, MINEFILL 2026, was held at the Beijing International Convention Center in Beijing, China, from May 17th to 20th. The symposium was jointly organized by the Non-ferrous Metals Society of China (NFSOC) and BGRIMM Technology Group. The conference theme, Minefill for Sustainable Mining Tomorrow, reflected the growing importance of mine backfill technologies in supporting safe, efficient, and sustainable mining operations. The symposium provided an international platform for researchers, engineers, consultants, and mining professionals to exchange technical knowledge, share practical experience, and explore innovations in mine backfill and mine waste management.
Technical topics covered in this conference included:
• New technology and equipment of mining with backfill
• Geomechanics and geotechnical aspects of mining with backfill
• Characterization of aggregates
• Cementitious materials and alternative binders
• Backfill mixing, pumping and material handling
• Optimization of mine backfill reticulation systems
• Strength and rheology characteristics and testing methods
• Strength requirement calculations and design
• Recipe optimization for mine backfill
• In-situ performance of backfill in mine stopes
• Integrated planning and management of mine backfill
• Mine backfill operations
• Case studies of mine backfill
The conference opened with keynote presentations by Aixiang Wu of the University of Science and Technology Beijing, entitled Cemented Paste Backfill: A Comparative Analysis of Global Perspectives and Chinese Innovations; Maureen McGuinness of Paterson & Cooke Canada Inc., entitled Backfill-The Other Tailings Storage Facility; and Xiaocong Yang of BGRIMM Technology Group, entitled Research Advances on Backfill Mechanics and Mining Technologies with Backfill. These presentations highlighted advances in cemented paste backfill, the role of underground backfill in tailings management, and developments in backfill mechanics and mining technologies. The technical program continued with ten sessions covering a broad range of scientific and engineering challenges, complemented by short courses on backfill design and operations, technical exhibitions, and opportunities for international collaboration.
The symposium was attended by more than 300 delegates from 16 countries with major mining and metallurgical industries. 55 papers were accepted and published in the conference proceedings, and more than 50 experts contributed to 48 presentations. Fifteen enterprises participated in the technical exhibition. The technical contributions reflected increasing interest in low-carbon and alternative binders, industrial waste utilization, backfill strength and rheological performance, and the geomechanical behavior of backfill systems. Advances in intelligent monitoring, digital technologies, reticulation optimization, and integrated backfill management also featured prominently. Together, these developments demonstrated the continuing evolution of mine backfill from a conventional ground support and waste disposal practice toward an integrated component of sustainable mining strategies.
The conference proceedings were published by MetaResource.