Economic efficiency of digital transformation of mining companies in conditions of technological modernization and Industry 4.0 solutions

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-6-88-96

Kuchkovskaya N.V.¹
¹Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №6/ 2025 p. 88-96

Abstract: Digital transformation of the mining industry is a critical factor in enhancing the competitiveness of Russian companies in the face of global technological challenges and the need to optimize the production costs. The relevance of the study is defined by the large-scale introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies in the mining sector, which requires a comprehensive assessment of the economic effects of the digitalization of production and management processes. The aim of the work is to quantitatively assess the economic efficiency of implementing digital solutions in mining companies and to develop a methodological approach to identify the direct and indirect economic effects of digital transformation. The study uses methods of comparative analysis, statistical data processing, economic and mathematical modelling, as well as expert assessment. The empirical base includes data from 50 mining companies in Russia for the period of 2019–2024, the results of industry studies by consulting companies, and statistical materials from Rosstat. The results show that investments in digital technologies by mining companies grew from 4.2 billion RUB in 2019 to 7.4 billion RUB in 2024, representing a 76.2% increase. Introduction of integrated management systems reduces operating costs by 3–7%, increases labour productivity by 3–5% and boosts production by 5–7%. The use of digital twins reduces emergency downtime by 15–20%, while the use of IoT solutions increases overall productivity by 25%. Complex digitalization can reduce operating costs by 40%, capital costs by 25% and increase the mineral recovery rate by 4%. It has been established that 63% of the mining companies predict a significant reduction in costs over a five-year period thanks to the implementation of digital projects. The theoretical significance of the study lies in the development of methodological support for assessing the economic effects of digitalization in the mining industry, including a system of indicators of the direct and indirect economic impact of technological solutions. The practical value of the work is determined by the development of specific recommendations for optimizing investment decisions regarding digital transformation of mining companies and justification of priority areas for technological modernization of the operations. Prospects for further research are linked to an in-depth analysis of the impact of artificial intelligence technologies and generative models on the long-term financial sustainability of the mining companies.

Keywords: digital transformation, mining industry, economic efficiency, Industry 4.0, production costs, digital twins, Internet of Things

For citation: Kuchkovskaya N.V. Economic efficiency of digital transformation of mining companies in conditions of technological modernization and Industry 4.0 solutions. Russian Mining Industry. 2025;(6):88–96. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-6-88-96

Article info

Received: 02.09.2025

Revised: 27.10.2025

Accepted: 05.11.2025

Information about the author

Natalia V. Kuchkovskaya – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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