Strategy of consolidation in gold mining as a tool for creating an effective business

The subject of the article is the search for an effective strategic solution within the framework of sustainable development of gold mining enterprises belonging to small and medium-sized mining businesses. The purpose of the study is to analyze the problem and provide a theoretical justification for the feasibility of horizontal integration for this category of gold mining enterprises. The scientific article reveals the processes of development of the gold mining industry, taking into account the state of the mineral resource base of placer gold. The role of horizontal integration and the feasibility of its application in the framework of enterprises belonging to small and medium-sized mining businesses are outlined. A method for evaluating the effectiveness of a horizontally integrated gold mining enterprise is proposed, taking into account potential synergetic effects and the possibility of production diversification. These approaches, even at the project stage, will allow us to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the planned consolidation.