The largest mining trade show in the world, MINExpo International, got underway at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV on Sept. 13 with an expected attendance of about 21,000 people.

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak joined Jimmy Brock, National Mining Association chairman and CONSOL Energy President and CEO; Mark Bristow, President and CEO of Barrick Gold and Jeffrey Dawes, President and CEO of Komatsu Mining Corp. and chair of MINExpo 2021 for the Ribbon Cutting ceremony on Monday morning. Sisolak welcomed the crowd to Nevada and expressed thanks and appreciation to the mining industry while noting the decision to keep Nevada’s mines operational during the COVID 19 pandemic that brought many industries to a halt helped many in the state survive the difficult year through direct and indirect employment.

In the opening session Bristow, Brock and Dawes were joined by Paul Lang, president and CEO of Arch Resources and Denise Johnson, group president for resource industries for Caterpillar Inc. The broad discussion touched on some of the most important topics facing the mining industry including workforce, the pandemic and the perception of mining to the rest of the world.

On the exhibit floor some of the largest and most advanced mining equipment in the world was on display from Caterpillar, Komatsu, Liebherr, Sandvik, McLanahan. Technology that supports the industry as it works to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic was on display from Weir, Hexagon and hundreds of other exhibitors.

The trade show runs through Wednesday, Sept. 15.