Strong Bulgarian participation in the 25th World Mining Congress
26 scientists, managers and experts from Bulgaria took part in the 25th World Mining Congress and its international specialized exhibition (18-22 June 2018) in Astana, Kazakhstan.
This largest and most appreciable forum of the mining industry brought together more than 2,500 participants from 51 countries under the slogan “Innovative Superiority – a Step Forward towards the Growth of the Global Mining Industry.” Four official Bulgarian representatives attended the 99th meeting of the International Organizing Committee of the Congress: Prof. Dr. Tzolo Voutov, Prof. Dr. Nikolay Valkanov and the newly-elected members Prof. Dr. Lyuben Totev and Dr. Eng. Kremena Dedelyanova. The Bulgarian delegation comprised 26 specialists and scientists from Ellatzite-Med AD, Geotechmin OOD, Assarel Medet AD, Scientific and Technical Union of Mining, Geology and Metallurgy, University of Mining and Geology “St. Ivan Rilski”, Bulgarian Chamber of Mining and Geology, and other experts from the mining sector.
The 25th World Mining Congress (WMC) was marked with three anniversary dates: 60 years since the foundation of the WMC, the 25th Jubilee WMC Session and the 20th anniversary of Astana city. Mining is considered to be a key factor for economic and civil development in many regions all over the world. The main topic for discussion was focused on finding ways for mutual cooperation between countries, so as to follow the path to sustainable development and to prevent mineral reserves and extraction and processing technologies from being a subject of political debate.
Furthermore, four parallel industrial tours were carried out. Some of the Bulgarian participants visited Bozshakol copper mine of KAZ Minerals Group. The ore deposit was discovered in 1920, but it was not until 2016 that the mine was put into commercial operation.
In parallel with the Congress, there was also an international specialized exhibition presenting a large number of companies producing mining equipment, software products, automation and process monitoring systems, etc. Mining science and business are undergoing dynamic development. It was decided in Astana that the next 26th World Mining Congress will take place in Brisbane, Australia in 2021.
Dr. Eng. Kremena Dedelyanova
Secretary General of the Scientific and Technical Union of Mining, Geology and Metallurgy
