The MiningWorld Russia 2026 Leaders Forum will set the industry's development vector.
Digital investment and increased efficiency in the mining industry will be a key topic at the Mining Industry Leaders Forum, which will be held as part of the MiningWorld Russia 2026 exhibition.
The discussions will be attended by executives and top managers of the industry's largest companies, including ALROSA, Russian Copper Company, EVRAZ, Norilsk Nickel, EuroChem, and many others.
On the first day of the forum, Mikhail Aronson, CEO of Zifra Group, and Igor Korotetsky, Head of the Engineering Department at Kept, will present the results of the study "The Russian Mining Industry: Investments in Digital Technologies 2026 and a Look Ahead." The purpose of this survey is to assess the current level of digitalization in the mining industry, analyze investment strategies, and identify which digital technologies are most in demand and have become the norm for the industry, while others are still only in strategic plans.
The business program will continue with a plenary session dedicated to technologies that deliver results. Digitalization directors will discuss investment opportunities in 2026 and digital investment priorities. ComNews Editor-in-Chief Leonid Konik will moderate the session.
During the practical session, participants will share their experiences with robotics and discuss which technologies have yielded the greatest impact.
At the user conference "Mining MES: User Dialogue, Integration Experience, and Identifying System Development Points," participants will explore practical examples and real-world use cases for the end-to-end solution. The main goal is to create a vibrant professional community for direct dialogue between developers, integrators, and end users of the system.
At the roundtable discussion "Marketing in Industry: How to Promote Technologies and Be Heard in 2026," participants will examine another component of mining technologies—communications. The roundtable will cover tools that truly work in industry in 2026; ways to improve the effectiveness of B2B marketing and PR campaigns; the role of research, implementation cases, and industry events; and how companies can be heard in the face of information overload.
The second day's plenary session, "Strategies for Mining Industry Leaders in an Era of Change," will address the topic of planning and strategy in a declining market. CEOs of production companies will discuss how they set planning horizons and discuss potential prospects and growth opportunities over 5-10 years. They will also discuss asset portfolio management: when it makes sense to exit projects, mothball them, or, conversely, invest further, as well as a possible shift in focus toward rare and rare earth metals.
A special highlight of the program will be the battle "Digital vs. Production: Who Makes the Decisions and Where to Invest?" The discussion will be moderated by Pavel Demidovich, Editor-in-Chief of Economic News and anchor of the RBC television channel. Participants will focus on the following questions: Is AI a support tool or a new manager? What is really needed to manage a company – experience and expertise or data? Does in-house software provide control or an illusion of control?
One of the forum's key events will be the awards ceremony for the "Mining Industry 4.0" award winners , which will take place on April 23. The competition will recognize the best digital projects, ranging from the automation of open-pit and underground mining operations to the implementation of AI, robotics, end-to-end production management, and industrial and cybersecurity solutions.
Following the awards ceremony, a case study session will be held for the winners, featuring an analysis of their completed projects.
"This year, the Forum will demonstrate the mining industry's responses to real-world challenges. Who has adapted and how, and what solutions have been emphasized. The industry is in a difficult balance: on the one hand, pressure on investment is increasing, while on the other, abandoning digitalization is no longer an option when it comes to competitiveness. It will be interesting to hear how companies are setting priorities, which projects are continuing to develop and which are being postponed, and which solutions truly help improve efficiency in the current environment," noted Mikhail Aronson, CEO of Zyfra Group.
"It's always interesting to know who overcomes crises and how. In good times, everyone is doing well. Difficult years are an interesting test of strength. We are glad that MiningWorld Russia has formed such a community where industry representatives can openly discuss and share experiences," shared Marina Chelak, exhibition director.