Proud-mining enterprises of Russia form the basic industry of the entire economy. The development of enterprises provides the country with a stable position and independence from foreign markets.
World ranking
Historically, Russia has large mineral reserves. Thanks to the development of mineral resources, the country occupies a leading position in the global market. Large reserves do not always mean clear leadership, for example, the Russian Federation has an overwhelming leadership in the world ranking for iron ore reserves, but their iron content is low. The same situation with titanium, tin, tungsten and many other metal-containing minerals.
Norilsk deposits, where the quality of the extracted raw materials are characterized by high rates, differ from the general situation. Today, large mining enterprises of Russia work there, where they develop raw materials for the production of nickel (20% of the world market), cobalt (10%), copper (3%). A significant amount of platinum, tellurium, and palladium is supplied from the Norilsk mines to the world market. According to experts, the Norilsk reserves will last for 30 years.
Russia produces 48 types of mineral raw materials, which makes it the absolute leader among 166 mining countries. Most of the countries participating in the market operate with a more modest list - up to 10 types of minerals. The share of the Russian mining industry in world production is about 10%, which makes it possible to occupy the third position in the rating.
Industry challenges
The main problem of mining in Russia is the lack of system exploration. All government projects in this area have been discontinued since 1966. The modern system of subsoil use by private developers does not stimulate research. As a result, the threat to the entire industry is growing. Most of the known deposits are already on the verge of running out of reserves, while new ones are not being discovered and there is no planned scientific exploration of the subsoil.
This situation leads to the dependence of metallurgical plants on external supplies. Aluminum production at domestic enterprises is directly dependent on the constituents. For the production of metal, bauxite and alumina are required, their production is gradually reduced. The share of own bauxite is 5-6 million tons per year, alumina - up to 2.9 tons per year, this is not enough for production capacities. The amount of purchased raw materials reaches 5.3 million tons.
In addition to insufficient exploration of the subsoil, there is a problem of abandoned deposits in the development of which no investments are made. Total copper reserves in Russia are estimated at 100 million tons. The largest deposit of this metal is in Eastern Siberia. According to the data, the Udokan field contains about 200 tons of raw materials, but no one is engaged in it. Other large deposits are under development (Oktyabrskoye, Gayskoye, Talnakhskoye), where reserves are coming to an end.
In the bowels of Russia there are up to 10 thousand tons of gold, but the situation in the gold mining industry repeats general trends. Industrial development is carried out at the Natalka deposit and in Sukhoi Log (1,500 tons of metal per year). The Far Eastern District accounts for the majority of gold mining (up to 58%). Development and exploration of new deposits is not conducted.
The basis of the country's economy
Russian mining enterprises are the main base that forms the country's budget. The contribution to GDP is 60-70%, increasing the export of raw materials and finished products ensures the filling of the stabilization fund of the economy and state reserves. The mining industry is a complex of industries, which includes:
- Extraction of mineral and energy raw materials (oil, gas, peat, uranium, coal, etc.).
- Ore mining of ferrous and other metals (iron ore, chromite, vanadium, molybdenum, etc.).
- Extraction of non-ferrous metal ores (copper, tin, lead, zinc, nickel, etc.).
- Extraction of mining raw materials (apatite, potassium salts, pyrite, phosphates, etc.).
- Extraction of industrial raw materials for the needs of various industries (graphite, asbestos, chalk, limestone, clay, granite, etc.).
- Extraction of precious, semiprecious, ornamental stones (diamonds, gems, etc.).
- Hydromineral direction (groundwater).
Mining enterprises of Russia are formed at the place of mining. For full-fledged work and reducing the cost of the complex is usually built a set of related enterprises. Concentrating plants, metallurgical plants and a complex of infrastructure facilities, including settlements for workers, road junctions, and energy complexes to support the operation of industrial enterprises, accompany ore deposits.
Large enterprises
To date, 24 large mining enterprises are operating. Geography covers the whole country. The leading role in the industry is played by Siberia and the Far East.
What are the mining enterprises of Russia? The list is presented below:
- Alrosa PJSC (PJSC) - located in the Republic of Sakha, the main activity is diamond mining, its share in the domestic market is 95% of the total volume of mined gemstone.
- Artel miners "Cupid". The company specializes in the production of platinum, palladium.
- JSC Atomredmetzoloto. The company specializes in mining uranium ores.
- Goroblagodatsky Mining Administration. The company is engaged in the development of a complex of iron ore deposits.
- Evrazruda OJSC, the field of activity is the development of five iron ore deposits.
- LLC Kovdorslyuda. At the moment, is in bankruptcy.
- JSC "Kola Metallurgical Company". The company's activity is non-ferrous metal mining, metallurgy.
- Metalloinvest, the basis of the enterprise is the extraction of iron ore, ferrous metallurgy.
- Mechel PAO (coal mining, production of non-ferrous and ferrous metals, coking coal, thermal coal).
- Priargunskoye PHO. Specialization is the development of uranium and molybdenum-uranium deposits in the Trans-Baikal Territory.
- UC RUSAL (mining of alumina and bauxite, aluminum production).
- GC Russian Platinum. Areas of activity - extraction of platinum, palladium, eolot.
- MMC Norilsk Nickel (production of nickel, copper, palladium and other metals, non-ferrous metallurgy).
- PJSC Severstal, one of the largest enterprises in Russia, the field of activity is the extraction of coal, coking coal, extraction and concentration of iron ore, a complex of metallurgical and mining and processing plants.
- AO SUAL (alumina, primary aluminum, aluminum-based alloys, etc.).
- Sibplaz Holding CJSC. The interests of the company lie in the mining industry, chemical, metallurgical, construction industries. Research and scientific work is underway.
- Silvinit OJSC (potash mining, production of potash fertilizers, food and industrial salt, etc.).
- Joint venture "Mongolrostsvetmet". Specialization - mining of gold, fluorite ore, iron ore, exploration.
- GOK Erdenet (development of a molybdenum and copper ore deposit, processing plant, metallurgical plant).
- CHEK-SU (mining of manganese ores of the Usinsky deposit, construction of a mining and processing enterprise).
- YATEC OJSC, the field of activity is hydrocarbon production, gas exploration.
- Kaliningrad Amber Plant JSC (industrial production of amber, jewelry).
Russian mining enterprises work in conjunction with processing and manufacturing enterprises.
Jobs
There is always work in the largest branch of the country's economy. Many seek to get into the mining enterprises of Russia. Jobs are almost always open for truck drivers and specialized equipment, laborers, there is a constant shortage of highly qualified welders. The list of vacancies is constantly updated, which gives a chance to all candidates to get the desired position.
The bulk of enterprises are concentrated in the northern regions of Russia, where the working conditions are very difficult. Employers, in addition to high wages, offer a special schedule - a shift method of work. The shift can last from 15 days to six months, after which the employee receives full wages for the whole time. Those who have already worked in this mode respond positively both to the experience gained and to wages.