According to expert forecasts, the global market for digital solutions in the mining industry is expected to nearly double by 2030, reaching approximately 20 billion USD annually. In Russia, the digitalization of mining enterprises is advancing even more rapidly — by 2024, the market had reached nearly 40 billion rubles, compared to just 10 billion in 2022.
First-year students of the “Automation of Technological Processes and Production in the Mining Industry” program have completed a one-week introductory training at JSC “Karelsky Okatysh.” The choice of enterprise was not accidental: this Russian leader in the production of iron ore pellets for metallurgical enterprises is also one of the most automated operations in the sector. One of its recent projects involves the implementation of a contactless digital monitoring system for conveyor belts in the finished product roasting workshop. The system detects material spillage and any belt damage, thereby minimizing downtime, reducing repair costs, and improving operational safety.
The enterprise includes a quarry and several plants: beneficiation, pelletizing, and roasting. Students visited all the company’s production facilities. They followed the entire pellet production chain — from the Central Quarry to the pelletizing stage. They also visited control rooms, dispatch centers, the tailings storage facility, and the technological automation and metrology workshop, which is directly relevant to their specialization. The students acquired knowledge of the fundamental principles of automation, studied technological processes, equipment, production organization systems, as well as methods of monitoring and control.
Student Anastasia Bogma shares:
«It was my first time visiting such a large enterprise. I was truly impressed by its scale. We were given a safety briefing and shown a training video. We received protective clothing and personal safety equipment. The enterprise assigned us a permanent guide — a specialist responsible for liaison with educational institutions. Additionally, each department or workshop had its own knowledgeable guide. Among all the site visits, the quarry left the most vivid impression. I was also struck by the enterprise’s technical equipment and the responsiveness of its staff».
According to Anastasia Ryabova, the trip fully met her expectations and sparked her creative energy:
«Despite the high level of automation at the enterprise, there is always room for improvement. During the site visits, we already came up with several ideas on which additional production processes could be automated. In the future, I would like to return here for the next stage of training — an industrial internship — and possibly even work here someday».
The desire to try himself as an innovator in the future also emerged for student Daniil Suleymanov:
«Before the training, I had a mistaken idea about the scale of production. I assumed that since the city is small, the enterprise would be small as well. But it turned out to be enormous. It would be interesting to work here after graduating from the university. Perhaps I could contribute some improvements to the production process. I’ll definitely come back here for my next internship».
According to the internship supervisor, Associate Professor of the Department of Automation of Technological Processes and Production, Yana Ustinova, the students will return from Karelia to Saint Petersburg not only with the most positive impressions but also with valuable knowledge for their future studies and professional development. For some, the introductory training may even become the first step toward employment in Kostomuksha.
«The goal of the introductory internship is to provide students with an initial understanding of their future professional activities in the mining industry. In this regard, JSC ‘Karelsky Okatysh’ is an ideal choice: a large, modern city-forming enterprise with a wide variety of technological processes. It is an excellent example of well-coordinated work among engineers, technologists, designers, programmers, workers, and other specialists.
The city of Kostomuksha itself also leaves a wonderful impression. It is very cozy, harmoniously combining European architectural minimalism with the beauty of Karelian nature» – said Yana Ustinova.
In 2025, the company “Severstal,” which includes JSC “Karelsky Okatysh,” is allocating 230 million rubles for the development of Kostomuksha. Among the major social projects is the construction of an indoor ice rink. Significant attention is also being given to environmental initiatives. Last year, the city-forming enterprise invested 433 million rubles in such programs.
During the week, the interns not only became acquainted with the enterprise but also visited the city museum, an equestrian club, and enjoyed a picnic at Lake Kontokkiyarvi, located within the city limits. According to general opinion, the city offers a successful combination of well-developed social infrastructure and proximity to nature.
A further argument in favor of potential future employment at JSC “Karelsky Okatysh” is the socially oriented personnel policy at the enterprise. It offers competitive salaries with northern bonuses and an extensive benefits package: voluntary health insurance, compensation for employee family housing, 50% discounts on access to the swimming pool and gym, and a “northern” annual leave of 52 days, with round-trip travel expenses covered by the enterprise for both employees and their non-working family members. The practice of personnel exchange among “Severstal” enterprises—of which there are more than a dozen major production sites—is also noteworthy.