Natural resource use in the Russian North: a case study of diamond mining in the Republic of Sakha

Abstract

The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) has a rich diversity of mineral resources and produces 99 per cent of Russia’s diamonds, worth annually US$1.5 billion and amounting to between 20‐25 per cent of the world’s output. During the period 1974 to 1987, ten “peaceful” underground nuclear explosions were made in the diamond province. One of these directly supported the diamond mining operations, but it “back‐fired”, contaminating the surface with radionuclides such as caesium‐137, strontium‐90, plutonium‐239 and 240, and americium‐241. Furthermore, the low level of implementation of existing environmental legislation by the diamond mining company has resulted in contamination of the river systems which are the key sources of drinking water, and has significantly affected the health status of the population, which may have long‐lasting consequences, as there is increasing evidence of genetic abnormalities. This paper investigates the exploitation of diamond reserves in the Republic of Sakha and its environmental, social and health impacts, and reviews the actions taken by the Government of the Republic to tackle these problems.

The Contribution of Natural Resource Producing Sectors to the Economic Development of the Sakha Republic

“…I attempted to make a preliminary estimate of these revenues in 2015 [15] (pp. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. According to this estimate, Sakha's gross contribution increased from 49 billion rubles to 91 billion rubles (increase by 88%), and its net contribution increased from minus 17 billion rubles to 25 billion rubles.…”

Marginalized for a lifetime: the everyday experiences of gulag survivors in post‐soviet magadan

“…The high level of out-migration from the region has also received increasing interest (see Heleniak 1999Heleniak , 1999aKim 1995;Kontorovich, 2000;Pilyasov, 1992;Soboleva, 1999;Soboleva and Melnikov, 1999; for figures see Goskomstat Rossii, 2000a). Its changing resource use is under considerable review, especially among Russian researchers (see Andrianov, 1995;Dyachenko, 1993;Kibalov and Goryachenko 2000;Kokorev, 1997;Polyakov, 1999;Vaisman, 2001Yakovleva et al, 2000. There is also a wide literature on the impacts of such momentous changes among the north's indigenous groups (see e.g.…”

Multiplicity of Ontologies: Lakes and Humans in Siberia

“…Due to extensive diamond mining, the river Vilyui (Yakutia, Northeast Siberia) is now one of the most polluted rivers in Siberia (Crate 2002; Yakovleva et al, 2000). Ongoing industrial and mining activities at the river’s upper course have resulted in robust surface water contamination in the area.…”