The history of Euro Mine Expo
Mining is vital for northern Sweden, and has been so for a long time. In 1924 a gold rush started in the Skellefteå Fields, based on discoveries made by the team later becoming Boliden mines. Today northern Sweden is Europe’s most mineralized area.
What would later become Euro Mine Expo started on a smaller scale as a conference in Malå through an initiative by our current partner Georange. It was evident that the needs would quickly outgrow both Georange and Malås resources which led to partnering with Nolia, an experienced expo and conference organiser in the area. Nolia accepted the challenge to take over the organising of the conference and so Euro Mine Expo was born. The first edition was held in October 2008 in Skellefteå, with the goal of becoming Europe’s most important meeting point for the mining industry. With only one hour from Arlanda Airport, and and 5 mines and a smelter operational within 100km from Skellefteå, it’s no coincidence that the town was chosen for the expo.
In Skellefteå, the expo could showcase state of the art technologies – from exploration to recycling – to the world. And what the town itself has to offer has only strengthened with time and now, Skellefteå is one of the centers where the technologies and new industries that support the digital and energy transitions are developing. And this is taking place against the background of the Skellefteå river and a vast forest landscape.
At the first event in 2008 the focus was on the conference and learning sessions with an exhibition on the side. It quickly became evident that interest in the exhibition portion was overwhelming and at the next opportunity, in 2010, the trade fair expanded significantly. Since the start, Euro Mine Expo has more than doubled in size and more than 2000 participants are expected in 2024.
In the last few years, the mining that goes on in the area is becoming increasingly important for Sweden and further afield. Internationally, it is not the amounts mined here that are important, rather the way that mining is done. In Sweden, the sector is highly innovative and technologically advanced, and it is increasingly becoming a vital part of the efforts needed combat and adjust to climate change.
It is an exciting, challenging, and interesting time we live in and for those with an interest in the latest developments in mining, related technology and policy debates, there is no better place to be than at the Euro Mine Expo in Skellefteå in May 2024.
