Future Mining Forum Expo 2026 to examine the future of mining and industry in Katowice

Future Mining Forum Expo 2026 will open in Katowice on September 9 with a programme focused on how mining can respond to changing supply, geopolitical and industrial pressures.

The first day will examine Europe’s raw-material policy, global competition for resources, supply security and the position of Poland and Central and Eastern Europe. Participants will include former European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek, Poland’s chief national geologist Krzysztof Galos, KGHM development vice president Zbigniew Bryja, Lumina Metals CEO Jordan Pandoff and Krzysztof Szamałek of the Polish Geological Institute.

Copper will receive particular attention. A dedicated session will address rising demand, new mining and processing projects, prices, and the roles of Poland and KGHM. Other discussions will cover European smelter competitiveness, metal recycling, low-emission processing, supply chains and mining technologies.

The September 10 programme will turn to the future of hard-coal mining, including transformation, company modernisation, competitiveness, energy security, investment and new technologies. Wojciech Balczun, Poland’s minister of state assets, will introduce the second day. Speakers will include executives from PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna, Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa, Lubelski Węgiel Bogdanka, FAMUR and Tauron Polska Energia, as well as the president of Poland’s Higher Mining Office.

The forum will also discuss where future copper projects might be built. Organisers point to the rising capital requirements and risks between mineral discovery and production, with sessions on exploration, greenfield projects, financing, infrastructure and administrative procedures. A technology session will examine artificial intelligence, data analytics, autonomous machines, digital twins, electrification and the effects of these tools on productivity, safety and costs.