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Following the success of HiTeMP-1 Forum in 2018, and despite the very significant disruptions caused by the COVID19 pandemic, HiTeMP-2 consolidated this Forum’s position as a globally unique and leading event in engaging international specialists from industry, research, government and community organisations to chart the path for the heavy industrial sector to transition to the new, low-carbon economic future. In addition to increasing its participation by 70% from the first forum, HiTeMP-2 also successfully introduced the simultaneous streaming of virtual participants, sometimes from different continents, within the live meeting of delegates.

An initiative of the University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ’s Centre for Energy Technology, HiTeMP-2 attracted 169 delegates from 15 countries, of which 64% participated on-line owing to the travel restrictions imposed by the outbreak of the Corona virus. Of these, some 39% were from industry, 43% from research, 14% from government agencies and 4% from non-government organisations. Furthermore, 90% of respondents agreed that HiTeMP-2 was highly relevant to them and that they would recommend this forum to their colleagues.

As a multi-stakeholder forum, HiTeMP-2 engaged panels of specialists with complementary backgrounds to identify, for several mineral industry sectors, the drivers, opportunities, barriers and enablers for the low-carbon transition. Key opportunities were identified for green hydrogen, biomass, electrification and the direct use of heat from concentrating solar thermal energy. These opportunities were identified within the varying contexts of the iron & steel, alumina, cement and new-energy-metals industries.

Unlike a traditional conference, all speakers are invited, with all other delegates being able to participate in the discussions. Out of necessity (often the mother of invention!), participation in live discussion from delegates was both face-to-face and via the on-line SliDo App. The presentations and discussions will soon be available for streaming and a synthesis of these key perspectives will be published in the second HiTeMP Outlook Report.

The Centre gratefully acknowledges the outstanding support from the Steering Committee, its Advisory Board and University of ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ’s Institute for Mineral and Energy Resources. We look forward welcoming you back to ÐÂÀ˲ÊƱ in 2022 for the third event in the series!