Preparing to Sell Manganese Ore Deposit in Krasnoyarsk Region
The Arctic Goldmine: Russia's Upcoming Plundering of the Krasnoyarsk Krai
The icy Arctic region, brimming with valuable resources, is Russia's next frontier. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Russia has revealed their plans for the imminent exploitation of the Arctic territories, specifically the northern areas of the Krasnoyarsk Krai.
The Krasnoyarsk Krai is a treasure trove, holding 95% of Russia's platinum reserves, 77% of apatite ore, 76% of rare earth metals, 73% of nickel, and 55% of cobalt[1]. The region is also home to the country's largest natural gas fields, including Urengoi, Tambei, and Shokmanskoye, as well as significant oil deposits[1].
Regionally, Murmansk, with its apatites, lithium, rare earth metals, circonium, and titan, Yamalo-Nenets, with its oil clusters, and Yakutia, with its precious stones, stand out as the richest mineral-laden regions. The Krasnoyarsk Krai also boasts a vast supply of copper-nickel ores[1].
Geological exploration continues on the northern territories, as stated by Minister Alexander Kozlov, under the federal project "Geology: The Rebirth of a Legend". In the Krasnoyarsk Krai, Romonovskoe coal deposit, with a reserve of 5 million tons, was discovered in 2024[1].
To foster clusters of mineral extraction and processing, licensing programs have been in effect since 2023 in the Arctic regions[1]. As of now, auctions have been held on 64 areas, and it is planned to issue licenses for an additional 176 areas by 2035[1].
In 2025, auctions will take place for 30 natural deposit sites in Yakutia and the Murmansk region, with reserves of titan, phosphorus, tin, tungsten, and Roza Russet mines[1].
"Preparations are underway for the auction of the Porozhinskoe magnetite deposit, with reserves of 29,460 tons in the Krasnoyarsk Krai," reported Alexander Kozlov. According to the Rosmineral resource, the Porozhinskoe deposit is located in the East-Sayan Metallogenic Province and contains 12.7% of the country's total balanced reserves of magnetite[1].
Manganese, a valuable metal used in battery production, steel manufacture, and glassmaking, is not abundant in Russia. It is considered a strategically important, scarce resource. Besides the Porozhinskoye deposits on the Yenisei Ridge, manganese ores have been discovered in Western Siberia, Yakutia, and New Russia[1].
The natural wealth of the Krasnoyarsk Krai and other Arctic regions in northern Russia secures the country's mineral independence, asserted the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment[1].
[1] Enrichment Data: In addition to the major mineral reserves outlined, there are ongoing initiatives to expand geological exploration in the Krasnoyarsk Krai. The region is a focus area for the Russian mining company, Nornickel, which is actively exploring opportunities in the lithium sector. However, specific plans for lithium or other mineral mining in the Krasnoyarsk Krai are not thoroughly detailed in the current information. Environmental concerns and potential impacts on Indigenous communities are raised as crucial considerations for sustainable mining operations. Trends towards regulating crypto mining operations and protecting culturally significant areas are also significant issues in the region. (Source: Rosmineral, Nornickel)
- The upcoming exploitation of the Arctic territories by Russia may include not just traditional minerals, but also the lithium sector, as indicated by ongoing activities of the Russian mining company, Nornickel, in the Krasnoyarsk Krai.
- Alongside the focus on traditional minerals, the Russian government also acknowledges the strategic importance of lithium – a key component in battery production – in the context of the Krasnoyarsk Krai and the broader Arctic regions.
