Mining in 2024 and a look ahead: interview with the exhibition director

We talked with the director of the MiningWorld Russia exhibition, Marina Chelak, about the current state of the mining industry in Russia and plans for the development of the exhibition in 2025.

— Marina, hello! Please tell us what main trends can you highlight in the mining industry of Russia this year?

One of the most important trends in mining, and over the past few years, I would like to note is digitalization. As shown by the study conducted by Yakov & Partners together with the Tsifra Group and presented at the MiningWorld Russia 2024 business program, 25% of respondents see the possibility of Russia becoming a world leader in digitalization.

At the same time, among the main IT trends in the mining industry in 2024, we can highlight the creation of a single digital platform, end-to-end automation of Mine to Mill, as well as import substitution and the creation of more flexible solutions.

Geological exploration is receiving increasing attention, including at the state level. The first stage of the Federal Project "Geology. Revival of a Legend" will be completed this year. A lot is being staked on it: the project is expected to bring the country 290 tons of gold, 6.5 thousand tons of silver, 160 thousand tons of copper and a significant amount of other minerals needed by Russian industry and the economy.

— And what is the situation with mineral extraction?

In 2024, no major changes are expected compared to last year. Thus, the Ministry of Energy predicts that the volume of coal production will be about 440 million tons - about the same as in 2023. In a number of regions, gold production increased according to the results of the first half of the year - 20.5 tons in the Magadan Region (an increase of 2 tons), 17 tons in Yakutia (an increase of 10%).

The Far East and the Arctic remain the focus geographies. More than 2 trillion rubles of investments were directed to mining projects in these regions. As of last year, more than 140 projects in the Far East and the Arctic were in the implementation stage. One of such large projects is the construction of a mining and processing plant at the Kumroch deposit in Kamchatka Krai. In April of this year, the project received priority status and is being implemented by JSC Bystrinskaya Mining Company.

— MiningWorld Russia 2024 was held with record results. Can you tell us more about it?
With pleasure. Indeed, 2024 was a record year for the exhibition in all respects: exhibition area ( 30,000 sq.m. ), number of participants ( 578 ), number of visitors ( 8,410 ). In 2024, we conducted an official audit of statistical indicators, and the 2024 data is confirmed by the certificate of OOO RussCom IT Systems, the official exhibition auditor. So these are not just numbers, but verified data.

The success of the exhibition is also emphasized by the number of new exhibitors - more than 320 companies took part in MiningWorld Russia for the first time. The exhibition also once again maintained its international status, 338 companies are foreign manufacturers and suppliers.

There was also high demand for participation in the exhibition from Chinese exhibitors, with 283 companies in total. As the Organizer of the industry exhibition, we want to make it easy for mining companies to work with manufacturers from other countries and to conduct business more easily through Russian-speaking dealers. Therefore, taking the initiative into our own hands, we held VIP tours for visitors to participating companies looking for dealers in Russia and the CIS to facilitate the development of dealer networks.

In 2024, MiningWorld Russia undoubtedly became more beautiful, including due to the increase in the number of companies that brought real units of equipment and presented them in a special exposition "Territory of Heavy Equipment". There were more than 60 participants in this exposition - significantly more than in previous years.

— Tell us how you manage to maintain such a high level of the event every year?

MiningWorld Russia is an established, strong brand, the exhibition has proven itself in the industry over 28 years of its existence. Participation in MiningWorld Russia is a kind of statement by the company that it is stable, growing and developing, ready to show new developments to the market every year.

Of course, it is extremely important for such a large industry event to maintain the level of quantity and quality of both exhibitors and visitors. Our team works on this all year round – attracting a new audience of participants and visitors, developing tools to retain the existing one.

The exhibition is a tool for establishing sales of products for suppliers and manufacturers, which explains the interest of participants. Here, both exhibitors and visitors fulfill a six-month plan of business trips and meetings in a few days, solving many tasks at the same time. Hundreds of companies find permanent and reliable partners, which gives a new impetus to the market and new opportunities.

In addition, the exhibition is held in Moscow, and, as we know, it is in the capital that the offices of the largest mining companies are concentrated, so their representatives come to us every year. More than half of the visitors ( 56% ) visit only MiningWorld Russia among exhibitions of similar topics, this is indicated by the results of visitor surveys.

I would like to say with particular pride that MiningWorld Russia is a platform for many premieres. For example, in 2024, the largest manufacturer of heavy trucks in Russia, KAMAZ, presented the KAMAZ 4555 Atlant 50 for the first time. A new product, the ZBO S50 drilling rig, was presented to visitors at the Spetsmash stand . Elektrogorsk Metallurgical Plant also presented a new product to visitors - a sedimentation and filter centrifuge, which is already successfully used for dewatering gold-bearing ores at the Olimpiada Mining and Processing Plant (Polus).

Our statistics show that 69% of visitors come to the exhibition to find new suppliers and partners, and 58% - to find new products and services. Therefore, we are constantly working to ensure that the exposition is diverse, and visitors can find everything they need to work with solid minerals at the MiningWorld Russia site. Attracting new participants also helps to increase the interest of the visiting audience.

Thus, the constant work to attract a high-quality and new audience to the exhibition bears fruit in the form of success - MiningWorld Russia annually serves as an effective industry platform that brings real benefits to the industry and its players.

— How are preparations going for MiningWorld Russia 2025?

Last year's success showed that the industry not only has great potential, but is also actively implementing innovative projects that deserve attention. Of course, we want to show the development of the industry and bring as many companies as possible that have something to offer the market. Therefore, in 2025, the MiningWorld Russia exhibition will once again expand its boundaries and occupy all 4 halls of Pavilion 1 and another one - Hall 6 - in Pavilion 2. Perhaps this is not the limit.

Now, two months after the end of the exhibition, sales of exhibition space for 2025 exceed last year's figures, which allows us to predict a significant increase in the exposition. At the moment, more than 73% of the space is sold out. So the exhibition will again be rich and interesting for visitors, and companies that want to participate with a stand should hurry up to take a place at MiningWorld Russia 2025. It is not for nothing that they say "a spoon is dear to the dinner table", because decisions on the development of the country's mining industry are needed not tomorrow, but right now.

— What do you think is unique about the MiningWorld Russia exhibition?

The uniqueness lies in the fact that we have a narrow specialization, unlike other exhibitions, where both construction and warehouse equipment are demonstrated. We have a fairly wide range of participants who present machines, equipment, technologies and solutions for all stages of work with solid minerals, which gives us the opportunity to attract an exclusively target audience of visitors.

According to the results of the visitor survey, which we conduct annually following the exhibition, 67% of specialists plan to purchase the products presented. This is a fairly large percentage, given that the transaction cycle in the mining industry is long and the cost of products is high. Such a high percentage emphasizes the demand for machinery and equipment for the mining sector, and, therefore, the relevance of the exhibition.

— Which of the mining equipment market leaders will take part in MiningWorld Russia 2025?

The list of exhibitors is constantly expanding, at the moment the following companies have confirmed their participation: Armet Group, FINSAD GROUP, M4E, Qingdao Fambition Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd, QS Group (Karryer-Service), Sever Minerals, TEM Partner, ALMAZGEOBUR, AltaiBurMash, NTC "Bakor", BELAZ, BMH RUS, Gormash Global, Mining Machines, Drilling Equipment Plant, InProTech, IZTM, Machine-Building Plant "POTOK", Progress-Mining, RUSBIZNESAVTO, RIVS, Spetsmash, TEKHSTROYKONTRAKT, TYAZHMASH and other companies. Many companies have booked larger areas compared to 2023, and we expect that MiningWorld Russia 2025 will once again boast a large number of equipment presented live.