Mining Armenia Forum 2026 assesses investment potential in Armenia's mining sector

The third annual Mining Armenia Forum 2026 brought together roughly 400 participants and 50 speakers from 14 countries to discuss the future of the Armenian mining industry. The two-day event, attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, focused on balancing mineral wealth with regulatory transparency and sustainable management practices.

Wood Mackenzie presented findings from their investment perception survey, highlighting that while Armenia possesses significant geological potential and a deep labor pool of experienced mining professionals, the sector faces hurdles. Key recommendations for attracting capital included improving the quality of geological data and creating a more predictable regulatory and investment environment.

Keynote speaker Mark Cutifani suggested that Armenia should pivot from traditional mining toward a "Materials Solutions Industry." By leveraging existing expertise in copper and molybdenum extraction, the country could capitalize on the global shift toward new energy technologies and increase domestic value-added production.

The event was organized by the Mining Forum Development Foundation and the Armenian Mining and Metallurgy Association, with sponsorship from entities including Zangezur Copper and Molybdenum Combine and Lydian Armenia. The forum also served as a precursor to international engagement efforts at the upcoming Resourcing Tomorrow event in London.