The unique natural resources of Chukotka have been known since Soviet times. Peschanka, the largest complex gold-copper deposit in the region, should serve as the basis for the creation of a large mining pole (Baim GOK). The new company should become the basis of a new industrial cluster. Its construction is included in the Strategy for the Social and Economic Development of the Far East and the Baikal Region, approved by order of the Government of the Russian Federation.
The Peschanka deposit was discovered in 1972, it is located 180 kilometers southwest of the town of Bilibino and is part of the Baimskaya mineralized zone. Its resources are estimated at 23 million tons of copper and 2 thousand tons of gold. In the last century, this area received the status of unpromising due to the insufficient development of the technological resources necessary for its development and the difficult climatic conditions at that time.
The situation around the promising deposit changed dramatically in 2018, when the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin launched the large-scale development of the Baimskaya ore zone at the Eastern Economic Forum. It is assumed that the construction of a mining and processing plant in this area will become the starting point for the integrated development of the entire Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Bringing the new enterprise to its design capacity should allow a quarter to increase the production of copper in the Russian Federation and increase the export of this metal, thereby strengthening the position of our country in international markets. Norilsk Nickel and KAZ Minerals (Kazakhstan) claimed responsibility for the development of the site, which succeeded in buying the deposit for 900 million dollars.
The key point that needs to be addressed for the effective development of this area is the creation of all the necessary infrastructure, which will be useful both for the company that has appeared here, and for the population of the region. So, in 2017, the construction of the Bilibino-Kekura-Peschanka overhead transmission line began, its length will be 235 kilometers. The new line is expected to be part of a larger energy bridge construction project that will link the energy systems of Chukotka and the Magadan region. In addition, in order to supply the industrial site with energy in 2021, a Rosatom project has been approved, which provides for the construction of five floating nuclear power plants (four floating and one standby). It should be noted that the state company managed to defend its rights to participate in this project in a competitive struggle by making an offer that turned out to be more attractive than Novatek’s alternative option, which consists of building a power plant floating electric powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). It is expected that the 4 floating power units will be delivered to the customer by 2031.
The development of the mining area will also be closely linked to the development of road infrastructure in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. For example, it is planned to build a 523-kilometer highway between the Peschanka field and the port of Pevek, through which it is planned to export a large part of the extracted resources. The investment costs for the construction of the section from Baimskaya to Bilibino will be covered by the aforementioned Kazakh investor. The remaining kilometers will be built with the financial support of GDK Baimskaya LLC, for these purposes the Far East concession program will be used.
In addition, by 2026 it is planned to carry out works to expand the port of Pevek. We are talking about the construction of a marine terminal at Cape Nagleynyn, which will include dredging, the installation of new port equipment and the commissioning of residential facilities.
If we talk about the development of production facilities themselves on the territory of the deposit, then, according to the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far East, Yuri Trutnev, the construction of mining and processing facilities will create about 3.5 thousand new jobs in Chukotka. The operation of the enterprise will lead to an increase in gross regional product by 45 billion rubles. At present, the construction of a runway has already been completed in the field, the first stage of a 20,000 cubic meter fuel storage facility has been put into operation, special equipment has been purchased, at the using which the necessary cargo will be delivered.
The estimated volume of financial investments of the key investor (GDK Baimskaya LLC) is estimated at about 731 billion rubles. Georgy Fotin, CEO of the company, noted that it is no coincidence that this project is systemic in nature. It includes the creation of highly productive jobs and will enable the formation of multi-billion dollar orders for domestic industry. In addition, companies among small businesses are already appearing in Chukotka, which feed, clothe and provide everything necessary for the specialists involved in the project.
Often in the media and in the statements of various experts, this project is criticized, various arguments are made, which is quite logical when it comes to such a large construction. Thus, it is said that the development of the deposit and the sale of the extracted resources to China once again confirms the nature of the raw material of the national economy. A very popular thesis is that attention should be paid to the construction of enterprises specializing in the production of various products from useful metals that will be mined in Chukotka.
Currently, the website of the Government of the Russian Federation contains information that the construction of the Baimsky mining and processing plant for one of the largest copper-gold deposits in the world should be completed on the territory of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug by 2026. , and by 2028 the enterprise should reach the planned power.
In summary, I would like to say that only after the commissioning of a new industrial plant, the installation of all logistics chains and the implementation of all related projects will it be possible to objectively assess the economic and social benefits of developing this field.
Author: Viktor Anufriev
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