From left to right: Panel Moderator Artyom Geghamyan (Executive Chairman, ICMA) leads a conversation with Tigran Jrbashyan (Director of Management Advisory Services, Ameria CJSC), Laura Bailey (Senior Economic Development Specialist and former World Bank Country Manager in Armenia, 2014–2017), and Kristen Hurd (Senior Mining & Sustainability Expert).
The Mining Armenia Forum 2025, held under the theme “Mining and Energy: International Trends and Armenia’s Potential,” brought together more than 250 representatives from government institutions, the private sector, investment companies, and international experts. Over two days of debate and discussion, the forum positioned mining not only as a foundation of Armenia’s economy but as a strategic pillar in the country’s transition toward sustainable growth and energy resilience.
Opening the proceedings, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan emphasized the forum’s importance as a platform for long-term engagement between the government and the sector, setting the tone for an event defined by both candor and ambition. The conversations that followed examined the deep interconnections between mining, energy, and industrial development, highlighting the sector’s potential to serve as a catalyst for innovation, investment, and regional competitiveness.
Participants from Armenia, Canada, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Russia, the United States, Belarus, and the United Arab Emirates explored the shifting dynamics of global resource markets and the imperative of aligning national policy with the broader transition to cleaner and more efficient energy systems. Across the sessions, a consistent message emerged: that Armenia’s mineral wealth, when developed responsibly, can underpin the nation’s long-term economic sovereignty and sustainability.
Industry leaders underscored the need for renewed exploration investments and a more coordinated approach between public and private stakeholders. Without such action, much of the country’s current production capacity risks depletion within the coming decade. At the same time, Armenia’s export potential continues to expand, with demand for copper, molybdenum, and gold rising in step with the global shift toward electrification and advanced manufacturing. Copper, in particular, is increasingly viewed not as a commodity of the past but as a critical mineral of the future.
The forum also stressed the importance of attracting high-quality investment and deepening institutional cooperation. Organized by the Armenian Mining and Metallurgy Association, and supported by Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine (ZCMC) and Lydian Armenia CJSC as general sponsors, the event showcased a maturing industry conscious of its environmental responsibilities and strategic role in global markets. ZCMC’s presentation of its 2024 Sustainability Report reinforced that commitment, reflecting broader progress within Armenia’s mining sector toward transparency, accountability, and adherence to international environmental standards.
As the country prepares to host the COP 17 World Summit on Biodiversity next year, the discussions in Yerevan carried a clear message: Armenia’s mining sector is not merely adapting to global trends but asserting itself as an essential player in the world’s transition to a sustainable energy future.
