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Russian Federation - Mining Overview
The main objectives are to stabilize financial situation and to increase capacities of efficient and potentially profitable mineral companies as well as to promote investments in the development of effective coal production, new capital construction, reconstruction and technical improvements of perspective mineral enterprises.
The numbers of industry visitors have doubled in just three years reflecting the increased production of raw materials in Russia and a wide range of equipment needed to modernise the Russian Mining industry.
Russia is a major minerals producer, being a global leader in several products, including diamonds, nickel, copper, coal, gold, PGE's, tin and bauxite. However, since the dissolution of the Soviet Union , Russia has struggled to maintain its ailing mineral industry. Many of its primary minerals are now located outside of the country in other independent CIS states.
Domestic demand for Russia 's mineral production has declined due to the major downturn in the Russian economy, devaluation of the rouble as well as a waning defence industry (responsible for the consumption of several metals). This has resulted in Russia turning to export markets. Apart from a few companies in the PGE and nickel sector (Norilsk Nickel) and perhaps in aluminium, Russia 's minerals production is of a lower grade and quality, resulting in few companies that can "make the grade" and compete globally. The old Soviet planning system was responsible for developing several low-grade ore deposits in the Soviet Union . In these scenarios, factors such as costs were not employed, as they are in a market based economy. As a result several Russian companies produce a lower quality product (relative to Western production), which does not make Russian mineral products globally desirable.
Although Russia has massive quantities of explored reserves, it is estimated that between 30 and 70% of Russia 's reserves are not exploitable under current economic conditions using mining methods from the Soviet period. In order to turn this around; new technology needs to be introduced to exploit these reserves. The old Soviet system did not include market economy costs when calculating ore reserves, therefore necessitating a review of reserve estimations throughout all the former Soviet Union countries.
The most significant mineral producing regions in Russia are located in the Kola Peninsula, the North Caucasus, East Siberia, the Urals and the Russian Far East. These regions host Russia 's massive raw materials base, with reserves estimated at approximately 20 years for iron ore and 10 - 30 years for other non ferrous metals.
Although Russia is major producers of most commodities, most of their production is consumed domestically or purchased by central government banks as stockpiles. Although Russia has a growing export mineral trade, it is still reliant on several imports, especially since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Russia 's largest export mineral product is natural gas, followed by crude oil and petroleum products.
Tungsten
Despite decreasing mine production, Russia remains the world's second largest tungsten producer. Russia has enormous stockpiles and has been responsible for flooding the market with stockpiled material, driving prices down. As a result several smaller tungsten mines have been forced to shut down.
Nearly half of Russia 's tungsten reserves are located in the North Caucasus, with remaining reserves in the Russian Far East and eastern Siberia . The Tyrnyaus complex is located in North Caucasus and is Russia 's largest tungsten producer. The complex has low-grade reserves estimated at containing 375 Mt. In general ore reserves are being depleted, with nearly 50% of the country's mining enterprises facing reserve depletion within 15 years. In order to rectify this situation, expansions at current operations are required. Other major producers include the Primorskiy and Lermontov deposits located in the Russian Far East. These two producers export a significant proportion of production.
Platinum Group Element
Russia is the world's second largest PGE producer, after South Africa . Due to a greater Palladium to Platinum ratio of its ores, Russia is the world's leading palladium producer, producing 50% of the world's global output. It produces 20% of the globe's platinum. However, the sale and export of PGE's (in particular palladium) from Russia have been highly irregular, resulting in major speculative rises in PGE's globally. Russia 's PGE's sales are executed through a single export agency, Almazjuvelirexport (Almaz) which is a state enterprise incorporated into the Finance Ministry. However, the export system is burdened with a complex bureaucracy that leads to major delays in export shipments. Russia 's sales in 2000 were estimated at 1.3 Moz platinum and 5.7 Moz palladium. Despite the fact that production figures are a state secret, Russia produced an estimated 540 000 oz platinum, 5.4 Moz palladium and 65 000 oz rhodium in 1999. State stockpiles levels are also unknown, but have been estimated by analysts to contain 950 000 oz platinum and 12 Moz palladium.
Nearly all (95%) of Russia's PGE production is controlled by MMC Norilsk Nickel ( Mining and Metals Co. Norilsk Nickel), that has four mining and beneficiation operations situated throughout Russia, viz. the Severonickel and Pechenganickel facilities in the Kola Peninsula and the Norilsk and Talnakh facilities located in the Taymyr Peninsula in Siberia. Nearly 90% of MMC Norilsk's PGE production comes from the Norilsk Complex, in particular the Oktyabrskiy mine, which produces nearly 60%. Norilsk produces approximately 700 000 oz platinum and 2.8 Moz palladium each year. Following the global spike in PGM prices, Norilsk has embarked on a ten year, $300 million expansion program. The following operations at the Norilsk District mines are undergoing upgrading and development: Oktyabrskoye, Talnakhskoye and Norilsk 1. At the Kola Peninsula Mines, the following are being upgraded and developed: Kotselvaara, Semiletka, Zapolyarnoye and Zhdanovskoye.
Another major source of PGM's are from the alluvial platinum miners from Russia 's Far East, the Koryakgeoldobycha, that produce an additional 320 000 oz of platinum annually.
Russia produced 236 000t of nickel in 1999, out of a global output of around 1 Mt per year. Of this amount, 222 000t (more than 90%) was produced by major mining company Norilsk Nickel. Norilsk contains approximately 78% of Russia 's nickel reserves, which are made up primarily of sulphidic and lateritic ores. Sulphidic ores are primarily located at Norilsk 's operations in Siberia (85%) and the Kola Peninsula (15%) with minor lateritic ores being produced from the Urals.
The Oktyabrskiy underground mine located in Siberia produces 55% of Norilsk 's nickel production (1998 production estimated at 105 000t). Other major producers for Norilsk are the Komsomolskiy and Taymirskiy mines (remaining 40% of nickel production). Norilsk subsidiary Pechenganickel, has begun construction of its new Tsentralny nickel and copper ore mine at the Kola Peninsula . Production is anticipated to begin in 2004. Norilsk Nickel produces 20% of global nickel, and 90% of internal nickel production. Silver
Russia 's largest silver mine, the Dukat mine, is situated in Magadan in Russia 's Far East . The mine was closed in 1995, but is currently being rebuilt through foreign investment. It has the potential to be one of the world's largest lowest cost silver mines, with anticipated production (at full capacity) of 15 Moz silver. Pan American Silver's original 70% interest in the operation has been diluted to 20% following the formation of a joint stock company, Polimetall. This follows irregularities between the ownership of mill assets and mining licenses between KasKol and Pan American. Pan American no longer has any capital obligations to the project and retains a 20% non equity sharing of the operation. Produciton is now anticpated to begin towards the end of 2001 under the management of a new Russian-Canadian company called Serebro Magadana. This holding company is currently 51% owned by Serebro Dukat, a subsidiary of Canada 's Pan American Silver, and 49% by Dukat, a joint venture between Russia 's Kaskol and Polimetall.
Dukat has proven and probable reserves estimated at 10.55 Mt grading at 755 g/t silver (228 Moz contained silver equivalent). The Dukat mine hosts approximately 90% of Russia 's silver reserves. Under the new management, Dukat now plans to produce 16 Moz silver per year, with silver being refined in Russia and not overseas, as Pan American intended.
Nickel (Ni)
Russia produced 236 000t of nickel in 1999, out of a global output of around 1 Mt per year. Of this amount, 222 000t (more than 90%) was produced by major mining company Norilsk Nickel. Norilsk contains approximately 78% of Russia 's nickel reserves, which are made up primarily of sulphidic and lateritic ores. Sulphidic ores are primarily located at Norilsk 's operations in Siberia (85%) and the Kola Peninsula (15%) with minor lateritic ores being produced from the Urals.
The Oktyabrskiy underground mine located in Siberia produces 55% of Norilsk 's nickel production (1998 production estimated at 105 000t). Other major producers for Norilsk are the Komsomolskiy and Taymirskiy mines (remaining 40% of nickel production). Norilsk subsidiary Pechenganickel, has begun construction of its new Tsentralny nickel and copper ore mine at the Kola Peninsula . Production is anticipated to begin in 2004. Norilsk Nickel produces 20% of global nickel, and 90% of internal nickel production.
Nickel (Ni) is hard, silver white metal that has numerous physical and chemical properties including strength, corrosion resistance, high ductility, good thermal and electrical conductivity, magnetic characteristics, and catalytic properties. Nickel's primary use is in the manufacture of stainless steel, steel alloys and super alloys, which have a major role in the development of the chemical and aerospace industries. Nickel is also used in batteries and fuel cells, and as a catalyst in the hydrogenation of fats and oils.
Economic concentrations of nickel can be found in two differing geological environments, as a sulphide ore and as a lateritic nickel ore. The main economic sulphide nickel mineral is pentlandite (Fe, Ni)9S8, which occurs with pyrrhotite (FenSn+1), pyrite ( FeS ), and chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) in lodes in mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks. The major lateritic nickel mineral is garnierite ((Ni, Mg)SiO3.nH2O) and nickeliferous limonite (nickel mixed with hydrated iron oxide). The nickel grade of sulphide ore typically ranges from 1-4 % nickel, and that of lateritic ore from 1-2 % nickel. Australia , Russia and Canada are the world's major producers of nickel.
Cobalt (Co)
Cobalt (Co) is not found as a native element on earth. It is a brittle, hard, transition metal with magnetic properties similar to those of iron. It is mainly used as an alloy with iron, nickel and other metals to produce corrosion and wear resistant products used in high temperature applications such as jet engines and gas turbine engines. Cobalt based alloys are also used in high abrasion resistant steels. Cobalt oxide is an important additive in paint, glass and ceramics, which gives them a brilliant and permanent blue colour.
Cobalt is produced as a by-product of nickel and copper mining activities. The main economic ore mineral of cobalt is cobaltite (CoAsS), erythrite CO3(AsO4)2.8H2O), glaucodot ((Co,Fe)AsS), and skutterudite (CoAs3). The DRC, Zambia , Russia and Australia are the world's major producers of cobalt.
Diamonds
In 1998 Russia was the world's 3rd largest producer of diamonds, after Australia and Botswana . Russia accounts for 21% of global diamonds produced. Most of Russia 's diamonds are located in three regions, the Arkhangelsk oblast, Perm oblast and the Sakha/Yakutsk Republic.
In 1996, Russia and De Beers reached an agreement acknowledging De Beers' rights to buy Russian uncut diamonds for export again. De Beers had the right to market 95% of total Russian uncut production under a previous five-year agreement. Alrosa has signed a three-year diamond marketing deal with the CSO. Russian production represents a total of 26% of the CSO's total sales. Under this new agreement Russia again can keep 5% of its uncut diamonds for its domestic diamond cutting industry.
Russia is one of the world's largest producers of gem quality diamonds. Russia's main diamond mining enterprise, Almazy Rossii-Sakha ( Alrosa ), which mines over 98% of the country's diamond output in the Sakha/Yakutsk Republic, is planning to increase production by commissioning the first stage of a mining and beneficiation complex at the Yubeleyniy openpit and by developing the Botuobinskaya pipe. Alrosa has declining production from its Udachny Operation (comprising Udachny and Sarnitsa deposits), but production and grades from the Jubilee mine are improving. Jubilee forms part of the Aikal complex, which is currently being developed. The Udachny and Jubilee operations produced 9.3 Mct and 5.2 Mct respectively in 1999. In addition to Jubilee, the Nyurbinsky deposit is also being developed with production anticipated in 2001.
Alrosa intends developing the Lomonosov deposit (comprising five kimberlite pipes) that is thought to be one of Europe 's largest diamond deposits. It is anticipated that the project could cost between $420 - $746 million to develop. De Beers had an initial interest in the project through its interest in Severalmaz, the Russian company with the licence to develop the Lomonosov pipes. However, after spending over $30 million on the project, De Beers has decided to discontinue its development activities in Russia .
Archangel Diamond Corporation is an international diamond exploration company that currently has a 40% interest in Almazny Bereg ("AB"), a Russian international open joint stock company, which is involved in the exploration of the Verkhotina license area in the Oblast of Arkhangel'sk in northwestern Russia . The Grib pipe in particular has had extensive bulk sampling studies carried out and could develop into a major diamond mine in western Russia. Grib has been estimated to contain a resource of 98 Mt of kimberlite to a depth of 500 meters, containing some 67 Mct of recoverable +1mm diamonds. The average mining grade of 69 ctpht and an average value of $79 pct has been estimated.
Australian major, Ashton has been evaluating ground in the Russian republic of Karelia , near the Finnish border. Ashton holds 80% equity in the licence and the Karelian Government 20%. Apparently a large diamond-bearing kimberlite has been located at Kemozero. A Russian joint stock company has been formed between Ashton and Alrosa to evaluate this area. Here Alrosa can earn a 51% interest in the joint venture by spending $3 million. The area of interest forms part of the Archaean-Proterozoic Baltic Shield of north Western Europe , including large parts of Finland and North West Russia. Diamondiferous kimberlite provinces of the Baltic Shield are known to occur in Finland and in the Archangelsk region. Bauxite
Russia is the world's 9th largest bauxite producer, producing 3.4 Mt in 1998. Most of the country's bauxite is produced from the Northern Urals , which produces more than 80% of Russia 's total. The Urals are said to contain nearly 30% of Russia 's explored bauxite reserves.
The Siberian-Urals Aluminium Company (SUAL) has begun construction of Sredne-Timan bauxite field; Russia 's biggest, in the Komi republic. The field contains a proven 260 million tonnes of bauxite, equivalent to 20% of Russia 's entire reserves. Bauxite can only be mined between December and April, when bauxite can be transported across the frozen river Vym. A bridge is being constructed, and once complete production is expected to rise to 490 000 t in 2000, increasing to 750 000 t in 2001. Operations in the southern Urals have ceased, as they are not cost effective and it is cheaper to import ore than mine it.
Chemical & Fertilizer Minerals
Russia is the world's 4th largest hard rock phosphate producer, producing 9.5 Mt in 1998 (78% of the Former Soviet Union's output). 90% of Russia 's phosphate production is sourced from several apatites - nepheline complexes situated in the Kola Peninsula . Approximately a third of Russia 's phosphate production is exported.
The Kola Peninsula has average grades estimated at 3 200 Mt grading at 14% P2O5. Main producing mines are the Khibiny and Koudor apatite - nepheline complexes, which contain 80% of their ore reserves underground. Other potential mine developments include the Belosiminskoye and Seligdarskoye deposits also situated in the Kola Peninsula .
Coal
Coal accounts for roughly 25% of Russia 's domestic energy supply. The bulk of this production is used domestically, while coal exports accounted for only 7% of total output in 1997. Russian coal production has declined since 1988, falling to 256 Mt in 2000. Russia is ranked 5th in the world with respect to coal production. Production has fallen in part due to labour unrest and strikes in the coal industry. The country has estimated proven reserves containing 2000 Mt of coal, with 45% consisting of anthracite and bituminous coal.
Coal exports are projected to increase with the completion of a new export terminal at Ust Luga on the Gulf of Finland . Although coal exports are not very profitable (because of transport tariffs and long distances from mines to export terminals), Russian producer Rosugol announced that it would build a new 9 Mt per year export terminal by 1999. Russia 's coal consumption in 2000 totalled 238 Mt, with United Energy Systems of Russia accounting for more than 55% of consumption. Exports for 2000 totalled 44 Mt, whilst 26 Mt were imported. Russia 's coal industry is undergoing a major restructuring in an effort to make the industry more efficient and profitable. In order to achieve this, the Russian government intends closing several unprofitable producers, including some 150 producers that collectively produce 34 Mt by 2002.
Nearly 90% of Russia 's coal reserves (estimated at 140 billion tons) are located in three large basins situated in the eastern parts of the country, viz. the Donets Basin , Kusnetsk Basin and the Kanksk - Achinsk basin. Unfortunately most demand for coal is located in the western parts of the country, resulting in high transport and energy costs. Export prospects look low due to high transport costs and loss of coal quality during transport.
Russia 's coal production is controlled by Rosugol, which controls 31 deep mines, of which 12 are operating, 17 are under closure and two are under construction. Donugol as another major producer has been building three new deep mines - Sherlovskaya Naklonnaya, Kalinovskaya Vostochnaya and Obukhovskaya-1 - since 1995. However, financial constraints have delayed their completion. Talks are under way with foreign equipment suppliers.
A feasibility study over the Elga deposit located in Russia 's Far East has been completed. Elha has resources estimated at over 2 100 Mt of coal. Annual production is earmarked at 20 Mt/ year of which 5Mt will be coking coal with the remainder being low sulphur thermal coal.
Copper Mining
Russia contains 10% of the worlds' copper reserves with most reserves located in Siberia (70%) and the Urals (20%). In 1998, Russia was the world's sixth largest producer, with 55% of its production coming from Norilsk Nickel, which is also a significant nickel and PGE producer. Almost 98% of Russia 's copper productions are exported. More than 50% of Russia 's copper reserves are undeveloped. New copper mine developments such as the Aleksandrinskoye (reportedly contains 6.4 Mt of copper - zinc ore), Letnyeye and Safyanovskoye deposits are being developed in the Urals. However, the general grade of these deposits is low, averaging only 1.5% copper.
Norilsk 's copper production is sourced from its operations at its Norilsk and Urals mining and beneficiation complexes. The Oktyabrskiy mine in the Norilsk complex produces 70% of Norilsk 's copper output, producing an average 240 000 t copper each year. Norilsk produced a total 403 000t of copper in 1999. Production is set to increase with the development of the Tsentralny nickel and copper ore mine at the Kola Peninsula , where production is anticipated to begin in 2004.
Gold
Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union , Russian production has been dropping steadily, but since 1998, production has been steadily increasing with 143 t being produced in 2000. Russia has a variable gold production industry with only 14% of its gold producers (about 78 companies) producing 74% of Russia 's gold. It is estimated that 69% of Russia 's 389 gold producers mined less than 100kg of gold, accounting for only 11% of Russia 's total production. This has led to no consolidation and therefore stagnation of the industry. Production from these mines is sold exclusively to the Gokhran (State reserve). Similar to South Africa , Russia is thought to employ approximately 400 000 people in its gold mining industry. "Artels" or private entrepreneurial brigades of gold prospectors produce nearly half of Russia 's gold production.
Canadian companies have been the largest foreign investors in Russia 's gold industry, although investment has dropped almost 90% since 1995. Canada 's Western Pinnacle and High River Gold Mines are among the main investors, with Placer Dome and Barrick appraising the development of the giant Sukhoi Log gold lode in Irkutsk region, which has an estimated $1.5 billion start up cost.
The Irkutsk region produced just over 12 t of gold in 1999, with production stemming from two main producers, the Lenzoloto gold company (producing more than half) and the Vitim artel producing 2 t.
Most production is from placer deposits in the eastern parts of Russia , with most identified resources (60%) located in the Russian Far East and in eastern Siberia . Nearly half of Russia 's gold is produced from the Magadan Oblast (30t), Krasnoyarsk (15t) and the Yakut - Sabkha Republic (11t) regions. Hard rock deposits are generally low grade at around 4g/t. Due to the fact that most of Russia 's production is sourced from placer deposits, the reserve base are being diminished rapidly. Emphasis is to be placed on the delineation of new mines, which is going to require major investments.
The Russian banks are still purchasing large amounts of gold for stockpiling and investments with the State Precious Metals and Gold Reserve (Gokhran) planning to buy 60 t of gold in 2000.
The Magadan Region in Russia 's Far East produced 29 t of gold in 1999 and intends to increase production to 35 t in 2000. Nearly 60% of gold production from this region was derived from lode deposits, with the remainder from placer deposits.
Kinross Mining has a 54.7% share in the high grade (average grade of 24 g/t) Kubaka mine in the Russian Far East in the Magadan Oblast area. Kubaka produced 450 000 oz in 2000 (at cash costs of $139/oz) and plans to produce only 391 000 oz in 2001, possibly as a result of decreasing grade.
The Omolon Gold Company is Russia 's second largest gold producer, after the Polyus artel from the Krasnoyarsk territory. Omolon produced 15.4 t in 1999, with the Polyus artel producing 15.7t. of gold. The Omolon gold mine in the Magadan area was constructed in the late 1990's with a planned production of around 300 000 ounces gold and 200 000 oz silver annually. The Krasnoyarsk territory, whose gold production is sourced mainly from lode gold deposits (totalling 33 out of 190), aims at producing between 25 - 27t gold by 2005.
The Urals have traditionally been Russia 's main gold producing region, with ZAO Yuzhuralzoloto being the major producer, producing its quota of 1.5 t in 1999. The focus of Yuzhuralzoloto's operations is on the Svetlinskoye gold lode in Plast, which is estimated to contain 100 tonnes of gold and 80 tonnes of silver. Yuzhuralzoloto were also carrying out a feasibility study to develop the Mikhailov placer deposit, thought to contain just over 1t of gold. However, production from Yuzhuralzoloto's operations should be as much as 4.5 ton per year.
High River Gold Mines has a 43.4% interest in JSC Buryatzoloto, one of Russia 's largest gold producers. It currently has two operational lode gold mines in southern Siberia (the Zun-Holba and Irokinda gold lodes) which produced just over 127 000 oz in 2000 (with average cash costs of $160/oz). Buryatzoloto has total estimated reserves and resources totaling nearly 12 Moz gold. The company's previous heavy reliance on hedging books is decreasing with a small hedging programme in place for the years 2000 through 2004, consisting of annual forward sales of 7 200 oz declining to 4 800 oz, at prices approximating US $401 per ounce. This means that more than 95% of production will be sold at current bullion prices. Production in 2001 is expected to be 10% higher at 140 000 oz gold.
Canadian Bema Gold Corporation is constructing and developing the $45 million high grade Julietta gold and silver project situated in the Magadan Oblast region. Bema has a 79% interest in the Julietta gold mine through its 79% owned Russian subsidiary Omsukchansk Mining Geological Company ("OMGC"). The remaining 21% is owned by local Russian partners. An annual production of 87 000 oz gold and 1.3 Moz silver is anticipated over the initial five year mine life with total operating cash costs (including royalties and taxes) of less than $100/oz. Full production is expected to begin in late 2001.
The mineral rich internal province of Yakutia produced approximately 15 t of gold in 1999, with this total expected to increase to over 20 t with the development of the Nezhdaninzkoye gold lode, which has been estimated to contain over 340 t of gold. Celtic Resources has a 50% interest in a joint venture to develop Nezhdaninzkoye and have set up a joint stock company, South Verkoyansk Mining Company to develop the mine.
Iron Ore
Russia produced 77Mt iron ore in 1998, and is ranked 4th in the world in terms of iron ore production, after Brazil , Australia and China . However, the average grade of Russian ore is low with 77% of Russia 's iron ore reserves currently being mined. This leaves several of the country mines with depleted ore reserves. In 1998 Russia exported 13.4Mt of iron-ore commodities, up 6% from 1997. Most of Russia 's iron ore mining companies form part of large steel enterprises that are vertically integrated. As a result, information regarding iron ore mining operations is not easily available, with production figures reporting in terms of the amount of steel products produced.
Most of Russia 's iron ore deposits are located in the Urals and Siberia regions, with the Kursk Magnetic Anomaly (KMA) being Russia 's major iron ore mining region. KMA has massive reserves estimated at containing 47 billion tons, of which 29 billion tons has been considered "high grade". Several of these deposits are being developed, which should extend iron ore reserves a further 15 - 20 years. However, these deposits are characterised by high stripping ratios as well as low grades (average 35% iron). Although most of Russia 's metallurgical facilities are located in Siberia , nearly 80% of these reserves are situated in central and northwest Russia.
Molybdenum
Russia is the world's fourth largest molybdenum producer, and produced 42 Mlb in 1998, representing 14% of the global production. Tin
Russia is the world's 8th largest tin concentrate producer. Although claiming to have the world's 3rd largest tin reserves, Russian grades are significantly lower (0.4 % tin) compared to other global deposits. Russian tin production has fallen by nearly 40% since 1990. Tin is produced from the eastern parts of Russia from both placer and lode deposits, with production dominated by the Novosibirsk Tin Combine (NOK). Novosibirsk intends increasing production significantly over the next three years, anticipating a total of 15 000t production.
Other Russian tin producer, Far Eastern Mining Company, intends producing up to 2000 t/year of tin in concentrate from reserves of over 100 000t. These massive reserves are located in the Khabarovsk region.
Russia has approximately 30 years of extractable ore reserves at current production rates; however, several tin mining operations are facing closure due to near - exhausted reserves. As a result local demand exceeds supply, calling for the rapid development of several new orebodies, notable the Pravo - Urmiyskoye and Sobolinskoye deposits.
Uranium
Russia has enormous uranium stockpiles, estimated at between 200 and 250 000 t. This is apart from uranium reserves which are estimated at 127 000t. Russia has one uranium mining company, Priargunskiy that exploits the Streltsovkoye deposit situated at Krasnokamensk in the Transbaikal region of Chita oblast. The Uranium Institute estimates Russia 's uranium production at about 2000t per year.
Zinc and Lead
Russian lead and zinc mine production continues to drop with Russia producing 114 000t zinc and 16 000 t lead in 1998. Russia 's largest producer of refined zinc and lead is the Chelyabinsk oblast situated in the Urals. The Chelyabinsk plant is supplied by mining and beneficiation operations situated which are located within a 300km radius. More than 50% of the plant's production is exported.
Other significant lead zinc producing regions are Dalpolimetal in the Russian Far East, Nerchinsk in the trans-Baikal region, and Salair and Altay in Western Siberia . As with other commodities in Russia, lead and zinc reserves are being rapidly depleted. New developments include the Ozemoye deposit in northern Buryatiya, the Goryevskoye deposit in the Krasnodar region of North Caucasus, and several deposits in the Altay region. Like what you've read? Try our free newsletters.
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