MINERAL RESOURCES IN NORTHERN REGIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF RUSSIA’S INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION

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Vitaly N. Lazhentsev

Institute of Socio-Economic and Energy Problems of the North, Komi Science Centre, Ural Branch  of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Syktyvkar, Russia

vnl1940@gmail.com, http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2222-5107

Abstract. The study explores the relationship between the mineral resources located in the Russian North and the general trends  in Russia’s economic development in the context of the evolving geopolitical landscape. The reaction of the energy sector to drastic changes in foreign markets is evident in its pursuit of strategies aimed at optimizing hydrocarbon production, processing, and export volumes. Simultaneously, efforts are made to improve oil and gas extraction from the viewpoint of the production structure and geographic locations while preserving the coal industry’s status as a cornerstone of the national economy. The challenges of sanctions and import substitution necessitate accelerated development within the mining and metallurgical sector, with a focus on Russia’s technological sovereignty. This study identifies the fundamental prerequisites for progress in the mining sector considering the unique characteristics of Northern regions, among which are intersectoral planning, scientific and technological innovation, and territorial cooperation. Of particular importance is the recalibration of intersectoral balances for non-ferrous and rare-earth elements, which  is necessary to mitigate the current temporal and spatial disparities in the growth rates of geological exploration, mining, and manufacturing industries. Scientific and technological advancements are aimed at solving problems in areas such as multipurpose resource use with the extraction of associated elements, mining safety, and environmental protection. The author’s proposal  for the formation of territorial production holdings, inclusive of research and development institutes, production facilities, and other enterprises, aligns with the economic and geographical concepts of geosystem and complexity. The study adopts a unified approach, merging mobilization strategies with evolutionary economic practices.

Keywords: technological sovereignty, mineral resource economy, metal scarcity, northern regions, conditions for accelerated development.

Acknowledgments: This article was prepared in accordance with the research and development theme of the Institute of Socio-Economic and Energy Problems of the North (Komi Science Centre, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences) titled “Factors Contributing to the Formation of an Effective Space for the Social Development of Northern Regions” (State Registration  No. 122011300376-8; the research is conducted under the supervision of T. E. Dmitrieva, PhD in Geography).

For citation: Lazhentsev V. N. Mineral resources in Northern regions in the context of Russia’s industrialization transformation. Sever  i rynok: formirovanie ekonomicheskogo poryadka [The North and the Market: Forming the Economic Order], 2023, no. 2, рр. 7–21. doi:10.37614/2220-802X.3.2023.81.001.

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