SIM Congress 2026 in Châlons-en-Champagne.
© SIM
The 75th Congress and Exhibition of the French Mineral Industries Society (SIM) will take place in Châlons-en-Champagne from 7 to 9 October 2026.
SIM is the leading trade fair for the extractive-industry sector in France. It showcases the products and expertise of the sector's various equipment manufacturers and service providers.
The leading event for trade professionals in the mineral industry
This annual event brings together quarry and mine operators, processing companies, design offices, OEMs and service providers, government departments, schools and universities, trade organisations and experts in the various fields of mineral extraction. Participants attend the congress to keep abreast of the latest developments in the sector thanks to a rich programme of conferences and round tables. The event also includes an exhibition dedicated to all the players in the sector, as well as tours of local industrial sites and informal moments during which participants can get together and exchange ideas.
Water: essential resource and strategic issues
The theme of the conference, Water: essential resource and strategic issues, will underline the importance of this vital resource in human and industrial activities, along with the challenges associated with its management and preservation in response to climate change.
BRGM presentations at the SIM Congress
Technical workshop 1: Mineral resources and regional industrial sectors
Wednesday 7 October, 2.00 pm – 4.30 pm
Panel moderator: Hélène Vinot, BRGM
Geology determines the characteristics of regional hydrogeology: recharge, flow, piezometry, accessibility of the resource, vulnerability, etc.
Detailed knowledge of the subsurface, hydrogeological processes and access to data are essential for preserving groundwater, and this applies at several levels. The water agency manages these water resources for managers, scientists, the general public and local industry, to promote water conservation, efficient use and support for economic and industrial activities. For manufacturers, the extraction of mineral resources is closely linked to the availability and quality of water.
The search for hydrogen at great depths opens up new possibilities and different approaches to water management, as proposed by the Regalor 2 project. Lithium de France generates heat and extracts lithium from geothermal water, enabling the Rhine Graben region to develop a competitive industrial sector and produce renewable energy and low-carbon lithium locally.
Presentation by Murielle Chabart, BRGM: Geology and hydrogeology in the Grand Est region
Technical workshop 2: Water resource management: international perspectives
Wednesday 7 October, 2.00 pm – 4.30 pm
Water is used throughout treatment facilities in mines and quarries to ensure they operate efficiently.
However, this practice often has consequences for local water resources, the effects of which vary considerably depending on the regions concerned.
It is because water management has always been a major challenge for the mining industry that it continues to develop innovative techniques to continually reduce the amount of water it abstracts and its impact on local water resources, all over the world.
This workshop aims to illustrate some of these innovations by examining best practices developed in Belgium, Quebec, Morocco and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to address the local challenges posed by water resource management in the mining industry.
Presentation by Anne-Gwénaëlle Guezennec, BRGM: Reducing the water budgets of mining processing plants and optimising water consumption
Technical workshop 4: Process and waste water: assessment and physico-chemical treatment
Thursday 8 October, 8.30 am – 11.00 am
Water plays a part in many aspects of quarrying and mining operations. It is an asset for the processing of extracted materials and the concentration of valuable elements, but it must be rigorously managed and treated before being discharged into the natural environment. During the process the water becomes laden with fine particles, colloids and dissolved substances. While recycling is necessary to limit consumption, it will also contribute to a decline in quality. Whether to maintain a minimum level of functionality or prior to the discharge of excess water, the water requires physico-chemical treatment.
The workshop will present the latest developments and trends aimed at addressing the key questions: how can we better manage water and its quality using assessment and simulation tools? How can we remove sulphates whilst seeking to recover them? Which combination of technologies best meets the requirements for effluent quality? How does lime help to remove unwanted substances and also reduce the moisture content of solid residues? Which more environmentally friendly molecules can be used to ensure the coagulation and flocculation that are essential for solid-liquid separation?
Presentation by Jérôme Jacob, BRGM: Technologies for the treatment and recovery of sulphates in water
Technical workshop 7: Mine and post-mining water: strategies and techniques for reducing impacts
Friday 9 October, 8.30 am – 11.00 am
Mining activity – whether past or present, underground or open-cast – generally has an impact on the water cycle. Manufacturers and operators of traditional mining sites are actively seeking to minimise negative impacts.
Beyond the aim of regulatory compliance, these initiatives are often part of a wider CSR strategy. “Upstream” prevention, where possible – such as in the design of mining structures to limit erosion, or the containment of acid drainage pools – is obviously the best solution. The quality of effluent discharged into the natural environment can be achieved through physico-chemical treatment, but passive treatment solutions have also been developed.
Throughout this workshop, there will be a wide-ranging discussion of experiences, covering both the mainland and overseas contexts, as well as the international arena.
Presentation by Stéphane Vaxelaire, BRGM: An overview of water treatment technologies used in post-mining operations in France