Great success in the accomplishment of HYDROCOPPER 2009, V International Copper Hydrometallurgy Workshop; Event held in Antofagasta City, Chile, 13–15 May 2009 . Two hundred and thirteen delegates, among hydrometallurgists, mining executives and plant operational managers, public authorities, researchers, academics, students, vendors and metallurgical service suppliers, participated during these three days Workshop The delegates came from 14 countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Equator, Germany, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Spain and USA.   The main participating mining companies of Chile and Region were: BHP Billiton, CODELCO Chile, Anglo American Chile, CM-Quebrada Blanca, CMDI-Collahuasi, CM-El Abra, ENAMI, Minera Escondida, Minera la Parreña, Minera Spence, Newmont Mining Co, Rio Tinto Copper, Southern Peru Copper Co., Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde, SQM, Xstrata Copper, among others.  

The main discussion topics between the delegates were: ore behaviour under leaching, optimization of sulphuric acid consumption in heaps, identification and quantification of bacterial activity in heaps, main technologies to process copper concentrates, process monitoring and control, automation and robotics of tank-houses, solvent extraction developments in treating solutions with high nitrate content, acid mist control, and the stabilization of arsenic generated by metallurgical operations. The Technical Program included the following Sessions:

•  Geometallurgy
•  Best Practices and Process Innovations
•  Leaching Process Developments
•  Environmental Topics
•  Best Practices in Solvent Extraction and Electrowinning
•  Biometallurgy

The Department of Mining Engineering at the University of Chile and the Organising Committee of the Workshop thank the collaboration of all the Delegates, Participants, Members of the Advisory and Technical Committees, who helped and supported with the diffusion of this Event and also with the review of the technical papers . We would also like to thank the Session Chairmen, the Sponsor Companies and especially the Authors for their participation and for sharing their knowledge and experience in the innovations on the processes and the production practices of copper and its valuable products.

We invite the hydrometallurgical community to maintain its enthusiasm and to participate in the next 6 th version of the Workshop, HYDROCOPPER 2011.