IMnI Annual Conference 2002 : June 5 - 8 in Shanghai, China

This year's Annual Conference, held in Shanghai, PRC, from June 5 - 8th was groundbreaking on several counts. First, the number of participants was up dramatically compared to past years: with over 100 IMnI members present, a delegation of 80 Chinese industry players and 15 accompanying persons, the group totaled close to 200 - more than double what it is normally.

The number and quality of the papers presented was also impressive. Thirty presentations were made during the Conference, ranging from topics such as "An Economic Overview of China", given by James Kynge of The Financial Times, to the status and future of the Manganese Ore, Alloy and Mn Non-Metallurgical Sectors, in China and around the world, by way of an overview of "Mn Industry Consolidation", "Investment Opportunities in the Chinese Ferromanganese Industry" and present Occupational Health & Safety rules and concerns, to name only a few of the issues addressed. Twenty-two of the presentations were delivered by IMnI members; the remaining eight by external experts and Chinese delegates.

Finally, this being the first time IMnI had held a Conference in China, members were invited to discover the city of Shanghai and, among other sites, its famous museum, where the Official Banquet dinner was held. The Conference was topped off by a Saturday morning tour of Baosteel.

Next year's Annual Conference will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from June 5 - 7 at the invitation of CVRD.

But in order to build on the relationship we initiated with the Chinese Mn players in Shanghai, IMnI will organize a one-day follow-up seminar during the last quarter of 2003 in China.

General Assembly Elects Vincent Trelut as Chairman,
Renews Executive Committee & Board

At the General Assembly held in Shanghai on June 7, and on the advice of the Board, members unanimously elected Vincent Trelut, Commercial Vice-President Ore & Alloys for Eramet Comilog Manganese, as IMnI's Chairman. Mr. Trelut had been serving as Acting-Chairman since April 3rd last.

The General Assembly also voted in a new Executive Committee, now made up as follows:

The Board was also renewed and the following members were elected or re-elected for a two year term:

In addition:

Charles Rezende (CVRD) replaces Vincent Trelut as Treasurer:

Committee Chairman are the following:

Juan Bosco Alavarez (Minera Autlan) replaces Oscar Tellaeche (Ferroatlantica) as Statistics Committee Chairman.

Leif Andreassen (Tinfos) renewed as Occupational Health, Environment & Safety (OHES) Committee Chairman.

Greg Forbes (BHP Billiton) renewed as Marketing & Communications Committee Chairman.

Masatoshi Yoshida (Tosoh), replaces Frank Webb (Delta) as the Electrolytic Products Division (EPD) Chairman.