Mobilizing Benefit-Sharing Through Transportation Infrastructure: Informal Roads, Extractive Industries and Benefit-Sharing in the Irkutsk Oil and Gas Region, Russia

Vera Kuklina,Viktor Bogdanov,Andrey N Petrov,Natalia Krasnoshtanova

doi:10.3390/resources9030021

Abstract

Road infrastructure development is an existing, but not a frequent element of extractive industry benefit-sharing frameworks in remote northern regions. However, it is often at the center of extractive activity and inflicts major impact on environment and communities. This paper examines the benefits and impacts derived from development of informal roads, i.e., vehicular roadways beyond the current publicly-governed road networks constructed, maintained and/or used by various entities and individuals based on private, special purpose and/or informal practices and regulations. Based on several field studies, GIS analysis of road networks and examination of secondary sources, the article investigates the use of informal roads as a form of benefit-sharing and details their impact on mobilities, environment and livelihoods of local and indigenous communities in the Irkutsk Oil and Gas region, Russia. We argue that construction, maintenance and use of the industry-built roads can be a part of benefit-sharing agreements, albeit mostly semi-formal and negotiated. The gains and problems stemming from ‘trickle-down’ (i.e., unintended) effects of the road networks are the most significant. The community-relevant implications of informal roads go far beyond immediate impacts on surrounding environment, but deeply affect subsistence activities, mobility, food security, personal safety and even consumer preferences of the indigenous residents.

Highlights

Benefit-sharing can be defined as the distribution of monetary and non-monetary benefits generated through resource-extraction activities [1,2]
We offer a look at how benefit-sharing mechanisms are materialized in a specific context, in this case, expansion of road networks
We pursue the answers to the following questions: (1) what is the role and nature of informal roads as part of benefit-sharing? and (2) how different benefit-sharing mechanisms mobilize benefits stemming from the informal roads infrastructure, and what issues do they create? To accomplish this, we examine the uses of informal roads as a form of benefit-sharing and investigate how they affect mobilities, environment and livelihoods of local and indigenous communities in the Irkutsk Oil and Gas region

Summary

Introduction

Benefit-sharing can be defined as the distribution of monetary and non-monetary benefits generated through resource-extraction activities [1,2]. Benefit-sharing is closely related to the notions of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Social License to Operate (SLO) and recognizes the right of local communities to receive a share of profits received by a resource company [2]. Resources 2020, 9, 21 highlights the necessity to share these benefits with the local stake- and rightsholders who live near to the resource extraction areas and provide access to the resource for companies. Benefit-sharing regimes that characterize the relationships between extractive companies and local communities rely on various mechanisms of benefit implementation. These mechanisms are financial, legal and procedural ways used to operationalize benefit-sharing [2]. Four primary mechanisms prevalent in the Arctic have been identified: streamlined (mandated), negotiated, semi-formal and “trickle-down”

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Conclusion