About MINEX Kazakhstan 2023

MINEX Kazakhstan

The leading international Forum dedicated to the development of the mineral resources and modernisation of the mining industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

19-20 April 2023, Astana

Briefly about the Forum

The 13th Mining and Exploration Forum MINEX Kazakhstan will be held in Astana on 19-20 April 2023. The Forum is organised under the general theme "Managing natural resources to accelerate national development".

The Forum is organised by ТОО «Горный Форум» (Kazakhstan) with the support of Kazakhstani and international partner organisations.

MINEX Forum has been held in Kazakhstan since 2010 and is one of the most impactful industry events in the Central Asian region.

The Forum offers opportunities for presentation and discussion of key trends, projects, and technologies in the mining and geological industry in Kazakhstan and the countries of the Central Asian region.

Media brief

The 13th Mining and Exploration Forum MINEX Kazakhstan will be held in Astana on 19-20 April 2023. The Forum is organised under the general theme “Managing natural resources to accelerate national development”.

The Forum is organised by ТОО «Горный Форум» (Kazakhstan) with the support of Kazakhstani and international partner organisations.

Venue: “Radisson Astana”, Sary Arka Avenue 4, Astana 010000, Republic of Kazakhstan.

The MINEX Forum has been held in Kazakhstan since 2010 and is one of the most significant industry events in the Central Asian region.  The MINEX Kazakhstan Forum offers opportunities for presentation and discussion of key trends, projects, and technologies in the mining and geological industry in Kazakhstan and in the countries of the Central Asian region. Experts from Kazakhstan, the countries of the Eurasian Economic Community, Europe, America, Australia, China and Southeast Asia participate in the discussion of key trends and practices of financing, capital development, improving production efficiency, reducing environmental footprint, etc.  Heads and leading specialists of ministries, industry associations and companies present plans for improving public administration in the field of subsoil use management. Technology and service companies conduct master classes and business presentations of innovative solutions for the entire mining chain from prospecting to large-scale transformation.

The Forum is organised in a hybrid format, which allows for speakers to present in person and remotely.

Who participates

Annually, the Forum brings together executives from national and international mining and exploration companies, service and technology companies, industry ministries and intergovernmental organisations, as well as investment funds and banks.  The previous Forum was attended (in person) by 357 representatives from 170 mining and metallurgical and service companies, authorities, and manufacturers of equipment for exploration, mining and processing of ores and minerals from 16 countries from Kazakhstan and overseas.

Discussion Topics

The Forum stimulates exchange between Kazakhstani and international mining companies, ministries, stock exchanges and institutional investors, non-profit organizations and associations, and law and consulting companies experts on the key trends, projects and success stories in the field of subsoil use. Innovative technologies are presented at technical sessions, master classes and business tracks.

Main topics of the Forum

2nd Mining Goes Digital Conference

The 2nd Conference on Digital Transformation – Mining Goes Digital, held alongside the Forum, offers a cross-industry platform for the presentation and exchange of the experience of digital transformation of companies and government organisations operating in the mining industry.  At the previous Mining Goes Digital conference held in Kazakhstan in 2022, USt-Kamenogorsk Titanium-Magnesium Plant, KATKO, Kostanay Minerals, National Atomic Company Kazatomprom, Kazzinc and Pustynnoye, Altynalmas presented project cases of the digitalisation of individual mines and the whole mining chains.

Industry competitions organised alongside the Forum are open for Kazakhstani and foreign companies. Presentations submitted to the contenders are evaluated by competent jury panels from representatives of leading Kazakhstani and international companies. All contenders will receive commemorative diplomas. The winners will be awarded prizes. The results are widely disseminated via press releases and posts on the media platforms supporting the Forum. Materials presented at the competitions are published online and distributed to the participants after the Forum.

MinDigital competition

The digitalisation of industrial production is one of the priorities of Kazakhstan’s economic development. According to official estimates, the digitalisation of mining production can increase the efficiency of almost all enterprises of the mining and metallurgical industry by 10-15 percent and reduce the cost of mining and transportation operations. At small and medium-sized enterprises, this potential is up to 50% or more. Many enterprises in the mining and metallurgical industry have already formed a digital transformation strategy.

For the second year in a row, the organisers of the Forum are holding a competition of technologies for the digital transformation of mining and metallurgical enterprises – MineDigital. The competition is organised for companies who provide solutions for the digitalisation and automation of production processes in the mining and metals sectors ranging from the creation of digital cores to the construction of digital mine twins.

MineInvest competition

Kazakhstan is among the top ten mineral-rich countries in the world. To date, more than 8 thousand deposits have been registered on the state balance of minerals of the country. Of these, 910 are deposits of metals and minerals. However, with the current intensive production, the country is close to the depletion of resources at many operating mines.  To intensify the reproduction of the mineral resource base in Kazakhstan, favourable conditions are being created.  At the same time, an audit of subsoil use licenses and an assessment of their contribution to economic and social development are carried out. As a result, the state plans to attract new investors to the development of mineral resources. The growth of foreign investment in the mining industry in 2022 amounted to 18.3%.

MineInvest – mining investment projects competition has returned to the Forum in a new format.

The purpose of the competition is to present to a wide international audience the Forum promising projects for the development of mineral deposits.

Project owners benefit from receiving feedback and advice from a professional investment panel and enhance visibility to stimulate the engagement of potential investors and partners from Kazakhstan and abroad.   Geological exploration companies, as well as large producers actively exploring projects for the reproduction of mineral resources in Kazakhstan and the countries of Central Asia, are invited to participate in the competition as contenders.

Trade exhibition

One of the important objectives of the Forum is the presentation of innovative technologies and practices to the local mining and exploration industry. The international exhibition, held within the framework of the Forum, enhances opportunities for business engagement and promotion of technologies offered by Kazakhstani and international companies. About a third of exhibitors specialise in the production and supply of equipment for geological prospecting, extraction, processing and transportation of metals and minerals. The second largest segment of exhibitors specialises in digitalisation and automation of production. The third largest group of exhibitors provides services and equipment for geological prospecting, drilling, and blasting operations.

Who participates

Annually, the Forum brings together executives from national and international mining and exploration companies, service and technology companies, industry ministries and intergovernmental organisations, as well as investment funds and banks.  The previous Forum was attended (in person) by 357 representatives from 170 mining and metallurgical and service companies, authorities, and manufacturers of equipment for exploration, mining and processing of ores and minerals from 16 countries from Kazakhstan and overseas.

Discussion Topics

The Forum stimulates exchange between Kazakhstani and international mining companies, ministries, stock exchanges and institutional investors, non-profit organizations and associations, and law and consulting companies’ experts on the key trends, projects and success stories in the field of subsoil use. Innovative technologies are presented at technical sessions, master classes and business tracks.

Main topics of the Forum

Trade & Investment exhibition

One of the important objectives of the Forum is the presentation of innovative technologies and practices to the local mining and exploration industry. The international exhibition, held within the framework of the Forum, enhances opportunities for business engagement and promotion of technologies offered by Kazakhstani and international companies. About a third of exhibitors specialise in the production and supply of equipment for geological prospecting, extraction, processing and transportation of metals and minerals. The second largest segment of exhibitors specialises in digitalisation and automation of production. The third largest group of exhibitors provides services and equipment for geological prospecting, drilling, and blasting operations.

Mining Goes Digital Conference

The 2nd Conference on Digital Transformation - Mining Goes Digital, held alongside the Forum, offers a cross-industry platform for the presentation and exchange of the experience of digital transformation of companies and government organisations operating in the mining industry.  At the previous Mining Goes Digital conference held in Kazakhstan in 2022, USt-Kamenogorsk Titanium-Magnesium Plant, KATKO, Kostanay Minerals, National Atomic Company Kazatomprom, Kazzinc and Pustynnoye, Altynalmas presented project cases of the digitalisation of individual mines and the whole mining chains.

Industry competitions

Industry competitions organised alongside the Forum are open for Kazakhstani and foreign companies.

Presentations submitted to the contenders are evaluated by competent jury panels from representatives of leading Kazakhstani and international companies. All contenders will receive commemorative diplomas. The winners will be awarded prizes. The results are widely disseminated via press releases and posts on the media platforms supporting the Forum. Materials presented at the competitions are published online and distributed to the participants after the Forum.

The digitalisation of industrial production is one of the priorities of Kazakhstan's economic development. According to official estimates, the digitalisation of mining production can increase the efficiency of almost all enterprises of the mining and metallurgical industry by 10-15 per cent and reduce the cost of mining and transportation operations. At small and medium-sized enterprises, this potential is up to 50% or more. Many enterprises in the mining and metallurgical industry have already formed a digital transformation strategy.

For the second time, the organisers of the Forum are holding a competition of technologies for the digital transformation of mining and metallurgical enterprises - MineDigital. The competition is organised for companies who provide solutions for the digitalisation and automation of production processes in the mining and metals sectors ranging from the creation of digital cores to the construction of digital mine twins.

Kazakhstan is among the top ten mineral-rich countries in the world. To date, more than 8 thousand deposits have been registered on the state balance of minerals of the country. Of these, 910 are deposits of metals and minerals. However, with the current intensive production, the country is close to the depletion of resources at many operating mines.  To intensify the reproduction of the mineral resource base in Kazakhstan, favourable conditions are being created.  At the same time, an audit of subsoil use licenses and an assessment of their contribution to economic and social development are carried out. As a result, the state plans to attract new investors to the development of mineral resources. The growth of foreign investment in the mining industry in 2022 amounted to 18.3%.

MineInvest – mining investment projects competition has returned to the Forum in a new format.

The purpose of the competition is to present to a wide international audience the Forum promising projects for the development of mineral deposits.

Project owners benefit from receiving feedback and advice from a professional investment panel and enhance visibility to stimulate the engagement of potential investors and partners from Kazakhstan and abroad.   Geological exploration companies, as well as large producers actively exploring projects for the reproduction of mineral resources in Kazakhstan and the countries of Central Asia, are invited to participate in the competition as contenders.

MINEX Kazakhstan 2022 facts and figures

In-person participants

The Forum was attended by 357 representatives from 170 mining and metallurgical and service companies, governmental bodies, manufacturers of equipment for exploration, mining and processing of ores and minerals.

More than 60% of in-person participants of the MINEX Kazakhstan 2022 forum participate in decision-making as directors, boards members, and senior executives.

  • Mining companies
  • IT and communication companies
  • Companies providing geological technologies and services
  • Consulting companies
  • Manufacturers and suppliers of equipment
  • Government agencies and organisations
  • Laboratories and analytical services
  • NGOs and Academic Organisations
  • Other services
  • Financing and investments

Geographical location of in-person participants

16 countries were represented at the forum in Nur-Sultan. More than half of the in-person participants of the forum live and work in Kazakhstan. Besides the local companies, the largest groups of participants were from Russia, the United Kingdom, and Turkey.

Kazakhstan 59.5%
Russia 26.2%
United Kingdom 4.5%
  • %

Remote participants

The live broadcast of the main sessions of the Forum was watched by 319 viewers. More than half connected from Kazakhstan, 20% from Russia and 8% from the UK. The rest of the viewers were from Afghanistan, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Canada, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Mongolia, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United States and Uzbekistan.

Kazakhstan 60%
Russia 20%
United Kingdom 8%
Ukraine 2%
United States 1%
Uzbekistan 1%
Georgia 1%
Other countries 7%

Exhibiting companies

48 companies and organisations from Kazakhstan, Russia, Great Britain, Australia, the USA, Germany, New Zealand and Canada presented at the exhibition, held within the framework of the Forum. Several companies from Ukraine and Canada were represented only in the virtual section of the exhibition.

About a third of exhibiting companies specialize in the production and supply of equipment for geological prospecting, extraction, processing and transportation of metals and minerals.  The second-largest group of companies specialise in digitalisation and automation of production in the mining and metallurgical industry.  The third-largest group of exhibitors provide services and equipment for mineral exploration, drilling and blasting operations.

  • Equipment
  • IT and mobile communication
  • Exploration services
  • Consulting
  • Engineering & Production

Exhibition Visitors

  • %

263 in-person visitors were registered at the exhibition.  As admission to the exhibition did not require pre-registration, the number of visitors was higher and is estimated at about 400-500 people.

Most of the registered visitors work at Kazakhstani and International mining and metallurgical enterprises, Equipment suppliers and Service sectors.  The rest of the visitors work in government organisations, Universities, IT, Financial and Trading companies. The exhibition was also visited by foreign specialists from Iran, Croatia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Canada, South Africa, the USA, Switzerland, and Uzbekistan.