The Ural Metallurgical Base is the largest in the country. Most of the Russian steel and pig iron is smelted by factories in this region. A lot of enterprises specializing in the production of nickel, zinc, copper, etc., have been built in this area. The geographical position of the Ural metallurgical base is considered quite convenient and economically advantageous. Mainly due to this factor, the products manufactured here are of relatively low cost.
Metallurgy of Russia
Before starting to consider the features of the development of this industry in the Urals, we find out what it represents throughout the country. Iron and steel enterprises in Russia may be engaged in:
- extraction of ore raw materials (iron, manganese and chromium);
- mining of related raw materials (coal, lime, clay);
- production of ferrous metals (cast iron, steel, rolled metal);
- production of cast iron and steel pipes;
- the release of coke and coke oven gas;
- recycling of secondary metals.
Non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises produce copper, nickel, zinc, etc. The importance of this sub-sector in the country's economy is quite large.
General characteristics of the metallurgical bases of Russia
Most of the plants in this industry are located in the Siberian, Central and Ural regions of the country. The location of ferrous metallurgy enterprises is mainly affected by such a factor as the availability of fuel and raw materials. Unfortunately, geographically, the places of coal and ore deposits rarely coincide. Therefore, factories are usually built close to the raw material or fuel base, and also between them.
The table below provides a brief comparative description of the metallurgical bases of Russia.
| Central | Siberian | Ural |
Ore | Largest deposits are present (Kursk Magnetic Anomaly) | Relatively large stocks | Enterprises experience some shortage of raw materials and are forced to look for opportunities to develop new deposits |
Coking coals | Imported (Donetsk, Kuznetsk) | Have their own (Kuznetsk coal basin) | Imported (from Kazakhstan) |
Enterprises | Mainly full cycle ( steel, rolled products and cast iron are produced) | Many enterprises have been built, both full cycle and marginal metallurgy (only steel and rolled products are produced) | Mostly full cycle |
These are the main indicators characterizing the metallurgical bases of Russia. The Ural Metallurgical Base is the largest of all. Siberian - is under development.
The largest enterprises of ferrous metallurgy in the Urals
Most of the plants in this region belong to full-cycle production. Of the largest, Magnitogorsk, Novotroitsky, Chelyabinsk and Nizhny Tagil can be distinguished. These four enterprises account for 80% of all district iron and 70% of steel. There are other plants in this region, not so large: in Serov, Chusovo, Beloretsk, Alapaevka, etc. The largest iron ore deposit in the Urals is Kachkanarskoye. The second most important is Orsk-Khalilovskoe. Almost all Russian chromites are mined here.
Geographical position of the Ural metallurgical base: features
This region is located in close proximity to fuel-rich Siberia and Kazakhstan, as well as to the European part of Russia that has serious scientific and technical potential. Of course, such a neighborhood cannot but affect the cost of the final product.
There is one more plus in the territorial position of this base. The Ural Mountains are very old. They appeared millions of years ago and by now have practically collapsed. Therefore, minerals lie practically on the surface here and in most cases can be mined open-pit.
Adverse factors include the lack of coking coal reserves in the region . However, the geographical position of the Ural metallurgical base is such that it is quite easy to bring it from neighboring regions. In most cases, coking coal is purchased in Kazakhstan. Iron ore is partially imported from the areas of the Kursk magnetic anomaly.
Magnitogorsk Combine
The Ural metallurgical base is represented by a fairly large number of enterprises. Magnitogorsk Combine is not only the largest in Russia, but also in Europe. It was built in the 30s of the last century. The production facilities of Magnitogorsk Combine occupy a total of about 7,000 hectares. This company produces 20% of all products sold on the Russian market and has a full working cycle. The first stage of production at the plant is ore mining, and the last is the deep processing of ferrous metal. About 40% of all products manufactured by this enterprise are exported.
Novotroitsk Ural Steel
This plant is part of the Metalloinvest holding and is one of the largest manufacturers of pipe billets, strips and bridge steel in the country. It is located in the Orenburg region and is the city-forming enterprise of Novotroitsk. Its old name is the Orsk-Khalilovsky Metallurgical Plant. It was built not so long ago - in the middle of the last century.
The features of the economic and geographical location of the Ural Metallurgical Base are such that it is advantageous to purchase part of the fuel in Kazakhstan. In particular, this concerns Ural Steel. Novotroitsky Combine is located right on the border with this state. During the collapse of the USSR, when economic relations with the former republics were interrupted, the enterprise experienced significant difficulties. Now the situation at the plant has improved slightly.
Among other things, this company produces:
- foundry and foundry iron;
- sheet and long products;
- stamped products;
- coke;
- cinder blocks;
- ammonium sulfate.
Part of the products is exported.
Nizhny Tagil Combine
This is one of the oldest metallurgical enterprises in the country. Its construction began in 1720. The Ural metallurgical base, whose geographical location in those days was not as advantageous as it is now, was only just beginning to emerge.
The first heat at the Nizhny Tagil plant took place in 1725. The main types of products manufactured by him today include:
- wheels for trains;
- rails;
- channel, corners, I-beams, etc.
Non-ferrous metallurgy
The enterprises included in this group also have a significant impact on the economy of the region and the country as a whole. The Ural Metallurgical Base is the largest supplier of non-ferrous metals. In this region, there are factories producing zinc, copper, aluminum, and nickel.
The largest enterprises are:
- OK "Rusal";
- UMMC;
- Verkhne-Salda Association;
- Ufaleinikel OJSC;
- Kamensk-Uralsky factory;
- Revdinsky plant OTsM, etc.
Problems and development prospects
The geographical position of the Ural metallurgical base is quite favorable. But, unfortunately, despite a number of recent reforms, the Urals remains a region exporting mostly unprocessed products. The most promising direction in the development of industry in the region, analysts see the further cooperation of the metallurgical complex of the Urals and the fuel and energy base of Siberia. Particularly effective could be the cooperation of factories in this region with enterprises of the Komi Republic.
The main direction of development, in fact, plants should be the intensification of production. The Ural economic and geographical territory has one feature - almost all enterprises of the metallurgical industry here are giants and are very difficult to convert and modernize. Another problem of large plants in this region is that they are slowly responding to market changes.
In the near future, the Ural Metallurgical Base, whose geographical position remains quite advantageous in terms of territorial structure, will remain the same. However, today the state considers the main goal to be the modernization of production in this territory.