In 1962, the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) and AMIRA International commenced a collaborative research project with the principal aim of optimising mineral processing operations by modelling and simulation. The program, commonly called, 'The Mineral Processing Project', was the ninth AMIRA project, and hence termed P9.

For 42 years and over 14 project extensions, P9 has been the backbone of a significant relationship between the JKMRC, AMIRA and the minerals industry. Currently around 30 international companies, from Australia, South Africa, North and South America, Europe and Asia sponsor the program. In 1996 a very productive collaboration between the JKMRC and University of Cape Town (UCT) was developed. In 2000 McGill University in Canada also joined as a collaborator in the program. The involvement of these institutions corresponded with a rapid incresase in companies from these regions. Further details on the research groups can be found by clicking here.

The industry sponsors have supported the continuation of this applied research program (during 2004-2007). They have developed a new set of objectives and industrial challenges for the research project team to meet over the 4 years of the project.