60% of Russian platinum group metals and a third of lithium are concentrated in two regions

Krasnoyarsk Territory and Murmansk Region topped the ranking in terms of metal reserves in nine positions at once

Krasnoyarsk Territory and Murmansk Region have become undisputed leaders among Russian regions in terms of metal reserves: each of them occupies first places in several positions at once, RIA Novosti calculated based on open data from the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation as of the end of 2023. Krasnoyarsk Territory leads in cobalt, manganese ores, copper, nickel and platinum group metals, Murmansk Region — in lithium, nepheline ores, rare earth metals and tantalum. A key role in the indicators of the Krasnoyarsk Territory is played by the Oktyabrskoye and Talnakhskoye sulfide copper-nickel deposits in the Norilsk industrial region: these two facilities account for about 40% of Russian cobalt reserves, 27% of copper, more than 50% of nickel and almost 60% of platinum group metals.

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Why the Norilsk region provides half of the country's nickel reserves

The Oktyabrskoye and Talnakhskoye deposits are located in the Norilsk industrial region of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and have been developed by Nornickel structures for several decades. It was here that the world's largest ore system of sulfide copper-nickel ores was formed, which explains the anomalously high share in the national reserves of several metals at once.

Special attention should be paid to the manganese assets of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The Chuktukonskoye and Porozhinskoye deposits together contain more than a quarter of all Russian manganese ore reserves — both facilities are still in the undistributed subsoil fund. The Chuktukonskoye deposit is additionally among the significant sources of rare earth metals.

How the Murmansk Region is preparing to become the country's lithium center

The Kolmozerskoye and Polmostundrovskoye deposits are concentrated on the Kola Peninsula — almost 35% of all Russian lithium reserves. Both facilities are in the preparation stage for industrial production, which should significantly reduce the dependence of the Russian battery industry on imported raw materials.

The region's existing production facilities are also large-scale. The Khibiny group of deposits near Apatity provides more than 49% of the country's apatite-nepheline ore reserves and has been developed for over 90 years. The Lovozerskoye deposit in the eastern part of the Kola Peninsula concentrates a quarter of Russian rare earth metal reserves and almost 30% of tantalum.

Share of regions in the reserves of key metals in Russia

Krasnoyarsk Territory:

  • Platinum group metals — about 60% of Russian reserves (Oktyabrskoye and Talnakhskoye deposits)
  • Nickel — more than 50%
  • Cobalt — about 40%
  • Manganese ores — more than 25% (Chuktukonskoye and Porozhinskoye)
  • Copper — about 27%
  • Gold — 2nd place in the country
  • Silver — 3rd place

Murmansk Region:

  • Lithium — about 35% (Kolmozerskoye and Polmostundrovskoye)
  • Apatite-nepheline ores — more than 49% (Khibiny group)
  • Rare earth metals — about 25% (Lovozerskoye)
  • Tantalum — about 30% (Lovozerskoye)
  • Nickel — 2nd place in the country
  • Niobium — 2nd place

The figures are based on the latest public data from the Ministry of Natural Resources — as of the end of 2023. The department conducts geological exploration regularly, so the actual shares may differ as new reserves are put on the balance sheet.

The Russian industry is not threatened by a shortage of rare earth metals — their reserves in the country are sufficient to meet any needs of the economy, the Ministry of Natural Resources said.

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