THE forthcoming Australian Gold Conference comes at a crucial time in the history of the industry, which has seen gold production escalate in this country from twenty tonnes in 1980 to about 300 tonnes.
Today the gold global industry faces fresh challenges and several difficulties, including the gold dumping policies of the European central banks hanging over the industry like the proverbial sword of Damocles.
The year 2000 is obviously an important historical marker. For the global gold industry it concludes a twenty year renaissance period of expansion and major advances in exploration, production and mining technology – arguably the longest golden age of the modern era.
Many pundits think that technological development, new exploration techniques, sustainability of the gold price, hedging and the restructuring of global gold producers will ensure the current golden age lasts at least another twenty years.
Sons of Gwalia Ltd executive chairman Peter Lalor asked: “Is this 2020 vision correct?”
The chairman of the organising committee and deputy chairman of the Australian Gold Council said a review of the past and the future is the theme for the 2000 Australian conference.
“Each year I attend a number of conferences around the world,” he said.
“Based on that experience, I believe that the Australian Gold Conference is the leading global gold conference examining the major issues affecting the fundamentals of our industry.”
This year the Australian Gold Council is co-presenter of this event for the first time.
The role of the Council and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy as co-presenters means the conference is being organised exclusively by the gold industry’s peak bodies and this has led to an expansion of the program.
A new third day, The Gold Show, will showcase a range of explorers and different sized producers.
