The three-day (September 13–15) 49th International Forum of National Representatives of the Association of the Geological Surveys Organizations of Europe (EuroGeoSurveys / EGS) was successfully concluded.
The meeting of National Representatives, held in person for the first time in two years, was hosted at the facilities of the Hellenic Authority for Geological and Mineral Research (EAGME). Representatives from 31 countries and 32 Geological Institutes participated. On behalf of EAGME, the participants were welcomed by General Director Mr. Dionysios Goutis, Greece’s National Representative to EGS Dr. Konstantinos Laskaridis, and the entire staff of the Authority.
During the Forum’s proceedings, discussions focused on the strategic direction and development of EuroGeoSurveys, as well as preparations for the upcoming meeting of the Directors-General of EGS member organizations, scheduled to take place on October 25–27 in Brussels, marking the 50th anniversary of the organization.
On the third day of the Forum, the National Representatives had the opportunity to participate in a geological and mining field excursion with two stops.
The first stop was at the Phocis Mining Park, at the facilities of “Imerys,” where company representatives provided a briefing on their operations and the mining history of the area. This was followed by a visit to the Vagonetto Mining Park, where participants experienced the step-by-step process of bauxite extraction in the old mine, Tunnel 850, and gained insight into the daily life of miners through their personal stories.
The second stop included a visit to the facilities of “Aluminium of Greece,” part of the Mytilineos Group. There, participants attended a presentation on how bauxite is transformed into pure alumina (Al2O3), molten aluminum, and subsequently cast into aluminum before the production of final products. The visit concluded with a guided tour of the factory’s facilities.