The International Arctic Forum hosted the session "Economy of Future Generations: Development of the Resource Base" on key issues related to the strategic role of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation in ensuring the country's resource sovereignty.
The development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is a strategically important task for the whole country, determining its economic and geopolitical future. The successful development of the Arctic, with its rich resources and access to the routes of the Northern Sea Route, directly affects Russia's national security and development.
In his speech, Alexey Chekunkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, spoke about the possibilities of the Arctic in providing the country with resources and projects aimed at their development.
"Today, investment projects are being implemented in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, where our companies invest 35 trillion rubles. As a result of these investments, a stream of goods is being generated that the global market needs in excess of 100 million tons after 2030. In order for our country to earn money and improve its economy, we need to export these cargoes – this is the Northern Sea Route. All these projects are based on people. And life in the Arctic is not the easiest. Therefore, our task is to ensure harmonious development so that these investment projects can be implemented," said Alexey Chekunkov.
During the session, Svetlana Panfilova presented a report highlighting the uniqueness of the region's mineral resource base and its strategic importance for national security and the stability of the country's economic system. The need to implement investment projects to create high-value-added industries in the Arctic zone was highlighted.
The region produces 100% apatite, 100% nepheline, 100% loparite and 100% baddeleyite concentrates, the Murmansk region is the largest producer of nickel, and also provides 7% of the all-Russian production of iron ore concentrate. In addition, more than 50% of Russia's lithium reserves are concentrated in the Murmansk Region.
The report also highlighted the importance of developing existing industrial enterprises located in the region in terms of their investment projects aimed at modernizing and expanding production facilities. As an example, the projects of JSC Kovdorsky GOK, the Kirov branch of JSC Apatit, JSC Kola MMC and JSC NWFC were cited.
Also during the report, the Deputy Governor paid attention to the implementation of investment projects for the extraction and processing of rare and rare earth metals, including the project of technological re-equipment of the Lovozersky deposit of rare earth metals under the auspices of Rosatom and the project at the Afrikandskoye deposit of perovskite-titanomagnetite ores.
"All these projects are of strategic importance for ensuring the raw material and technological sovereignty of the rare and rare earth metals industry," Svetlana Panfilova emphasized.
One of the key topics was the development of lithium deposits, in particular, the most promising Kolmozersky deposit. It was noted that more than half of the Russian lithium reserves are concentrated in the Murmansk region. By 2030, Polar Lithium plans to build and put into operation a mine and a mining and processing plant at the Kolmozersky deposit for the extraction and enrichment of 2 million tons of ore per year, and is also considering the possibility of creating a chemical and metallurgical plant at one of the industrial sites in the Murmansk region with a capacity of 45 thousand tons per year of lithium products. The development of the Kolmozersky deposit will allow Russia to enter the top three world leaders in lithium reserves and become a significant player in the global market.
Special attention was paid to the issues of gasification. It should be recalled that following the meeting in 2022 between President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Governor of the Murmansk Region Andrey Chibis, a key decision on gasification of the Murmansk Region with mainline natural gas was supported. In addition to avoiding fuel dependence, gasification will launch new investment projects aimed at both creating new production facilities and developing and modernizing existing production facilities. At the moment, a Program for the development of gas supply and gasification of the Murmansk region is being formed, which will reflect all potential gas consumers and the timing of their connection, as well as the General Scheme of gas supply and gasification of the Murmansk region, which will reflect the location of all gas supply facilities.
The issues of human resource development were also considered. Enterprises and companies implementing projects in the Murmansk Region actively cooperate with regional educational institutions in terms of training specialized personnel. In total, the Murmansk Region has more than 100 educational institutions assigned to industrial partners. In addition to high salaries, companies offer unique social preferences for specialists.
"The Murmansk Region is not only a unique resource base, but also a region that is actively developing, introducing new technologies and investing in the future generation of specialists. All our events and projects are carried out in accordance with the strategic plan "Live in the North!" initiated by Governor Andrey Chibis. We are convinced that the Murmansk Region will become a reliable pillar for the economy of future generations and a guarantor of Russia's technological sovereignty," Svetlana Panfilova summed up.
/ Ministry of Arctic Development and Economy of the Murmansk Region /
Photo – Roscongress Foundation, photographer – Mikhail Kireev.