Advantages and Challenges of Developing Large and Local Coal Projects in the Arctic Zone of Russia

Abstract

Among the new projects of the Program for the Development of the Coal Industry of the Russian Federation until 2035, the possibility of developing the Arctic coal deposits is being considered. The article considers both positive (increase in NSR cargo turnover, employment in the territory, development of the Arctic infrastructure) and negative effects (environmental burden, non-transparency of tax revenues of projects not in the territory of implementation, rotational management, state subsidies, etc.), which generate new projects.Prospects for the supply of new coal projects are analyzed in the context of the decarbonization economy. Arctic projects involve the supply of coking coal and anthracites for export, which leads to increased competition in the Asian markets among Russian coal suppliers from Yakutia, Tyva, and Kuzbass. Due to the geographical remoteness of traditional coal mining centers from export ports and due to the limited capacity of the railway, in the future, competition between individual regions of the Russian Federation for access to logistics infrastructure and subsidies for transportation becomes acute. In this situation, Arctic coal projects are in a comparatively better position.An increase in the production of high-quality coking coals and anthracites is planned to be achieved in the underdeveloped northern regions, which will require the use of new innovative technological solutions not only in the production, but also in the transportation of coal, as well as the involvement of a large number of workers and specialists.