The City of Greater Sudbury is gearing up for a significant foray into the Central Asian mining sector, with a trade mission to Kazakhstan set for June. Elena Zabudskaya, the city’s business development officer, is leading the charge, confident that this mission will open doors to new mining partnerships for local supply firms. The stakes are high, and the potential benefits are substantial, given Kazakhstan’s burgeoning mining industry and its appetite for innovative technology.
Zabudskaya draws parallels with the successful Oyo Tolgoi operation in Mongolia, where several Sudbury-based and Northern Ontario companies, including Rainbow Concrete, Variant Mining, and Redpath Mining, have played pivotal roles. The Oyo Tolgoi project, owned by mining giant Rio Tinto, began construction in 2010 and commenced open-pit production in 2013, serving as a testament to the potential of such international collaborations.
Kazakhstan, with its vast untapped mineral deposits, presents an even more promising landscape. “I believe that Kazakhstan has even more opportunities than Oyu Tolgoi and Mongolia, specifically because they have so many deposits that need to be developed,” Zabudskaya asserted. This statement underscores the strategic importance of the upcoming mission, which aims to tap into these opportunities and foster new markets for Sudbury businesses beyond Canada and the United States.
The mission is not just about exploring new territories; it’s about leveraging Sudbury’s established mining supply sector, which is renowned for its comprehensive range of products and services. Major Canadian mining companies, including Teck Resources, B2B Gold, First Quantum Minerals, Nutrien, Hatch Ltd., and Glencore, have already set up shop in Kazakhstan, indicating a robust and receptive market.
Zabudskaya’s optimism is shared by MineConnect, the Sudbury-based agency representing mining supply firms across Ontario. The agency sees the mission as a unique opportunity to explore new markets and foster international partnerships. This sentiment is echoed by the growing interest from Sudbury-based companies, several of which have already signed on for the mission.
The trade mission will culminate in the Astana Mining & Metallurgy Congress, a mining conference and trade show. While Sudbury will not have a booth, there will be a dedicated 90-minute session showcasing Canadian mining technology. This session is a testament to the global recognition and reliability of the Made-In-Canada brand in the mining industry.
The mission is not just about business; it’s about challenging norms and sparking debate. It’s about asking why Sudbury’s mining supply firms should limit their horizons to Canada and the United States when there are burgeoning markets like Kazakhstan. It’s about questioning the misconceptions that have historically deterred companies from exploring new territories.
As Zabudskaya puts it, “So some people say that Kazakhstan and Central Asia are the next Latin America. It’s like when 20 years ago, Latin America wasn’t really on the radar for mining, right? People thought it wasn’t safe to go there. People had their misconceptions. And now we know that our Sudbury suppliers are opening their operations in Chile and Brazil and Mexico. It’s 20 years later and now it’s the biggest, or one of the biggest mining markets for them.”
The upcoming trade mission to Kazakhstan is more than just a business trip; it’s a bold step towards expanding Sudbury’s mining supply sector’s global footprint. It’s a chance to challenge the status quo, spark debate, and shape the future of the mining industry. The mission is a testament to Sudbury’s resilience and its unwavering commitment to innovation and growth.
