Themed "Minefill for Sustainable Mining Tomorrow," the 15th International Symposium on Mining with Backfill (MINEFILL 2026) was held in Beijing from May 17 to 20.

Focusing on cutting-edge industry trends and key technical needs, more than 300 representatives from 16 major mining countries gathered to exchange research findings and explore future directions for backfill mining technology.

Since its inauguration in 1973, the symposium has evolved into a premier global academic event in the field of mining with backfill, serving as an important platform for pooling industry expertise, guiding technological innovation, and promoting international exchange and cooperation.

In his opening address, Jia Mingxing, chairman of the Nonferrous Metals Society of China (NFsoc), said backfill mining technology has become a key pillar for ensuring safe, green, and efficient mining operations. In recent years, China has achieved remarkable breakthroughs in backfill mining processes, equipment, and applications. The symposium provides a high-level platform for academic exchange and industrial cooperation, aiming to promote the deep integration of new technologies such as AI and digital twins with backfill mining.

Han Long, chairman of the BGRIMM Technology Group, hoped the participants would use the symposium to deepen exchanges, build consensus, and work together to advance global backfill mining toward greener, smarter, and more efficient development. BGRIMM, serving as a technology development base for China's mineral resource development and utilization, has established a number of international cooperation platforms and taken the lead in formulating multiple international standards, national standards, and industry standards in backfill mining.

Maureen McGuinness, chair of the Minefill Symposium Committee, said the symposium held in China once again after 22 years was profoundly significant. She urged the attending experts and scholars to fully leverage the high-level platform to share cutting-edge research findings, deepen the exchange of technical expertise, and jointly drive innovation in backfill mining technologies to advance the sustainable development of the global mining industry.

Guo Lijie, chair of MINEFILL 2026 and professor of BGRIMM, viewed the symposium as a vital global platform for technical exchange and innovation cooperation in the field of backfill mining. The successful hosting of MINEFILL 2026 highlighted the international influence and competitiveness of China's mining industry in the global backfill mining sector.

Besides keynote speeches, the symposium featured 10 technical sessions on frontier research and critical engineering challenges in backfill mining. The topics included new technologies and equipment, geomechanics and geotechnical aspects, rheological characteristics and testing methods, integrated planning and management, and case studies.

The symposium, jointly organized by the NFsoc and the BGRIMM Technology Group, also hosted short courses, technical exhibitions, and industry–university–research matchmaking activities, providing a comprehensive international platform for academic exchange and industrial collaboration.