Socio-environmental aspects of the development of mineral raw material resources industry in the border regions of the East of the Russian Federation

Abstract

The paper presents calculations demonstrating the role of the mineral resource complex from a socio-ecological point of view. The activities of the industry should ensure the development of high-quality social infrastructure and a fairly high standard of living of the local population, including the quality of the environment. This is especially important because enterprises tend to be located in remote areas with not the most favorable climatic conditions. The paper shows the contribution of the raw mineral resource complex on the regional income tax. To compare the environmental impact of the industry with its contribution to the economic growth, an eco-intensity indicator is used. There is a significant differentiation between the Eastern border regions of Russia in terms of socio-environmental dynamics in the field of mining. The most successful is the development of the mineral sector of the Irkutsk region: There is a significant increase in the wage fund, and the improvement of environmental characteristics of emissions into the air. The calculations revealed an unfavorable situation in Primorye Territory. With the reduction of the wage fund formed in the mineral sector, there was an increase in eco-intensity by more than one and a half times.