Press-centre

21 february 2025

Today, on 21 February, a modern laboratory "Autonomous electromechanical systems of electric propulsion of mining machinery" was officially opened in the BELAZ Competence Centre on the basis of one of the leading technical universities of Russia – the Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University.

The event took place on a symbolic date - the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation.

The opening ceremony was held in the presence of high-ranking guests. The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Vladimir Karankevich, State Secretary of the Union State Dmitry Mezentsev, First Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Vasily Osmakov, Deputy Minister of Industry of Belarus Denis Bakey, Rector of the Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University Vladimir Litvinenko, and General Director of BELAZ Sergei Lesin.

The laboratory "Autonomous electromechanical systems of electric propulsion of mining machinery" is the only one of its kind, where students can recreate all power, mechanical and technological processes of the power plant of a BELAZ dump truck using real technical units and assemblies as examples.

This is the sixth laboratory opened in the BELAZ Competence Centre. In addition to it, five other laboratories are actively working: training and simulator and training and laboratory complexes, "Digital Mining Production", "Intelligent Mining Engineering" and the laboratory of on-board systems of BELAZ machinery.

Sergey Lesin: "BELAZ consistently develops co-operation with the best universities in Russia and CIS countries. Our co-operation with the Mining University gives students an opportunity to learn not only theoretical knowledge, but also practical skills that will enable them to successfully integrate into the professional environment in the future. BELAZ provides modern technical facilities, thanks to which the educational process reaches a new level, allowing students to master complex engineering skills".

In his welcoming speech, the General Director of BELAZ also emphasised that the future of the mining industry lies with young, talented and ambitious specialists.

«We are making every effort to ensure that these specialists discover their talents, acquire the knowledge necessary and, most importantly, in demand in the industry today in modern laboratories and on modern BELAZ equipment», – noted Sergey Lesin.

During the grand opening of the laboratory, an Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation was signed between OJSC “BELAZ” – Management Company of Holding “BELAZ-HOLDING”, and Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, which strengthens bilateral relations in the field of research and educational activities. The document was signed by Sergey Lesin, General Director of BELAZ, and Vladimir Litvinenko, Rector of Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University.

Among other things, the agreement provides for training and retraining of specialists for the fuel and energy and mineral resources complexes using the technical resources of the BELAZ Competence Centre laboratories, joint scientific and educational practices, as well as joint scientific and educational events.

Vladimir Litvinenko, Rector of the Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University Vladimir Litvinenko, Rector of the Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University of, presented letters of thanks to Sergey Lesin, General Director of BELAZ, Alexey Grachev, Deputy General Director for Strategic Development and Corporate Management of BELAZ, employees of our company, and representatives of BELAZ partner companies for their active contribution and participation in the creation and development of the BELAZ Competence Centre, which made the implementation of such a large-scale project possible.

In his turn, Sergey Lesin, for his personal contribution to the establishment and development of the BELAZ Competence Centre, acknowledged the rector of SPMU Vladimir Litvinenko, as well as vice-rectors and employees of the Mining University, with the following thanks.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Viktor Karankevich: «Belarus and Russia are long-standing partners united by common goals and realising the need for comprehensive development of young people, providing them with all opportunities to receive modern quality education and its practical application to realise their potential for the benefit of the two countries. The opening of this laboratory is a vivid evidence of strong friendship, cordial good-neighbourliness and successful cooperation between our countries».

On 21 February, as part of the ceremonial events, a round table was also organised on the topic "The Role of Engineering Personnel in Ensuring Sustainable Development and Information Security of Machine-Building and Mining Operations".

The meeting was moderated by Aleksey Grachev, Deputy General Director for Strategic Development and Corporate Management of OJSC BELAZ, and Yury Zhukovsky, Director of the Educational Centre for Digital Technologies of the Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University.

During the event there was a substantive exchange of views on the issues of reducing environmental impact in mechanical engineering and mining, transition to the use of robotic vehicles, as well as the role of information technologies in achieving sustainable development goals in mechanical engineering and mining and other topics.