Preparing to sell manganese ore deposits in Krasnoyarsk Krai

Exploring Treasure Troves in the Arctic: Russia's Arctic Regions, Including the Northern Krasnoyarsk Region, Unveil Riches Yet Untapped

The Arctic zone is a veritable treasure chest of valuable minerals, according to Russia's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. There's a gold rush happening, and Russia's Arctic territories are the new El Dorado. With over 95% of Russia's platinum reserves, 77% of apatite, 76% of rare-earth metals, 73% of nickel, and 55% of cobalt tucked away in the frozen wastelands, the stakes are high. But it's not just the shine in the ice that's drawing the world's attention. Oil and gas giants are also eyeing the Arctic's untapped fossil fuel reserves.

Regions like Murmansk, with its apatite, lithium, rare-earth metals, circunium, and titanium deposits; Yakutia, home to precious rubies and sapphires; Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, with its oil and gas clusters; and the Northern Krasnoyarsk region, sitting on hefty oil and gas reserves and nickel-rich deposits, are the pivotal players in this grand game. In fact, the Northern Krasnoyarsk region boasts over 2.6 billion tons of oil and gas reserves, making it a hot contender in the global race for resources.

The Krasnoyarsk region continues to be a hotbed for geological exploration, as noted by Minister Alexander Kozlov, who emphasized the federal project "Geology: The Return of a Legend." In 2024, for instance, the region unveiled the Romantovskoe coal deposit, boasting a whopping 5 million tons of reserves.

To spur development, naturally, there's a gold rush of a different kind in the Arctic regions since 2023—licensing programs. So far, auctions have been held on 64 plots, with plans to issue licenses for an additional 176 over the next 10 years. In 2025, auctions are set to take place on 30 "natural treasure chests" in Yakutia and Murmansk regions, harboring titanium, phosphorus, tin, tungsten, and other precious minerals.

"Preparations are underway for the auction of the Porozhinskoe magnetite deposit, with reserves of 29,460 tons in the Krasnoyarsk region," announced Alexander Kozlov. The Porozhinskoe deposit, according to Rosmineral, is nestled in the East Siberian-Yeast Siberian-Sayan metallogenic province, home to a whopping 12.7% of the country's balances reserves of magnetite.

This precious metal is a commodity in high demand, used primarily in battery production, glass manufacturing, and, most crucially, in steelmaking. Steel production, specifically that of constructional and rail steel, heavily relies on magnetite. With scarcity looming, Russia needs all the magnetite it can get. Although reserves are limited, magnetite deposits can be found in the Krasnoyarsk region, West Siberia, Yakutia, and New Siberia.

Russia's northern regions, including the Krasnoyarsk region, house the valuable natural resources needed to secure the nation's raw materials sovereignty, as emphasized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Photos: Nikolai Щipko, Norilsk Nickel, Rosmineral

Enrichment Insights:

Presidential Instructions: Russia has emphasized the need to create chains for searching and developing mineral deposits in the Arctic, with a focus on extracting and deeply processing rare and rare-earth metals in the region[4].
Investment and Infrastructure: Significant investment is being directed towards Arctic projects, such as the Baimskaya copper mine in the Chukotka region. This project involves a substantial infrastructure development, including a port and road, and is expected to boost economic growth and job creation[5].
Geological Exploration: The Russian government plans to allocate more than 50 billion rubles over the next three years for geological exploration to identify new mineral deposits, particularly for scarce types of minerals[4].
Regulatory Measures: Efforts are being made to prevent "dormant" mining licenses by ensuring that subsurface users are held accountable and that licenses are transferred to more active companies if development doesn't occur in a timely manner[4].
International Cooperation: There are ongoing discussions about potential US-Russia joint ventures in energy and metals, which could further enhance Arctic exploration through shared technology and investment. This cooperation aims to counterbalance China's dominance in critical minerals[2][3]. However, such collaborations are subject to geopolitical factors and sanctions.
The environmental-science community is expressing concerns regarding the potential impact of increased mining activities in the Arctic section, given the region's delicate environment and existing climate challenges.
In 2025, over 30 environmental-science organizations have pledged to monitor the Arctic's natural resources, with a focus on minimizing environmental degradation during the scheduled auctions for "natural treasure chests" in Yakutia and Murmansk regions.
News outlets are reporting that sports associations are increasingly advocating for broader public awareness of the Arctic's ecological future, as they believe it echoes the principles of sustainability and teamwork that are integral to sports.
The Northern Krasnoyarsk region plans to establish a dedicated sports section, aiming to raise regional awareness about the importance of protecting the Arctic's ecosystems and fostering a culture that prioritizes environmental stewardship.