The industry of the Arkhangelsk region is concentrated in such centers as Severodvinsk, Kotlas, Novodvinsk, Nyandoma, Koryazhma, Velsk. Historically, the industrial production of the region has been focused on timber processing, transport, and industries related to ship servicing. Also, nuclear shipbuilding is considered one of the important industries of the Arkhangelsk region. Thus, the obvious advantages of the region are its rich reserves of natural resources, the proximity of the northern sea route and historically developed ports and shipyards.
Overview of the industry of the Arkhangelsk region
Vast forests, a large amount of water resources and the proximity of sea transport routes make the Arkhangelsk region a very suitable region for the development of industries. Minerals also contribute greatly to regional gross domestic product. An important part of the region’s economy is also the military-industrial complex, as the region has naval bases and repair facilities.
The largest volume of product is produced in the Arkhangelsk region by the forest industry and pulp and paper enterprises.
Logging and wood processing
In the industrial structure of the Arkhangelsk region, timber processing accounts for 41% - this is the largest indicator compared to other industries. Such a significant percentage in the regional economy is possible due to a combination of favorable circumstances.
The region has large reserves of raw materials, well-developed river, sea and rail transport. There are large reserves of fresh water, which is required for the production of pulp.
Most of the wood produced in the area is also processed here, and the rest is exported. Building materials and paper are produced from wood in the region.
Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill
The decision to establish a pulp mill in Arkhangelsk was made in 1931, but it only became fully operational in 1940. To service the plant, a special railway line was even built from Isakogorka station, which today is located in the city limits of Arkhangelsk.
Initially, the factory planned the production of wrapping paper, but the beginning of the Great Patriotic War made significant adjustments to the production. In 1942, a special workshop was opened at the plant for the production of components for smokeless gunpowder, and later some workshops were converted for the production of grenades and skis.
Today, the company specializes in the production of cardboard, packaging, pulp and school notebooks, being one of the largest suppliers of paper products to the Russian market.
At the moment, the plant is part of a large holding company controlled by an Austrian management company. The holding also includes enterprises located in the Voronezh region.
Chemical industry of the region
The largest chemical manufacturing enterprise in the region is the Kotlas Chemical Plant. This company has been operating for nearly thirty-five years and makes a huge contribution to the economy of the region.
The plant located in Kotlas specializes in the production of reagents that prevent the formation of rust, enamels, canned varnishes and hardeners. However, the priority activity of the chemical plant is the production of consumables for the oil industry, namely:
- depressants that prevent freezing of petroleum products during transportation;
- sulfate scale inhibitors;
- asphalt solvents;
- demulsifiers.
The plant has its own laboratory in which quality testing is carried out, new formulations are developed, and, at the request of the customer, changes are made to the composition of existing reagents. The plant also has a branch in Moscow.
Shipbuilding Centers
Severodvinsk in the Arkhangelsk region is one of the leading centers of military and nuclear shipbuilding. In the city there is an enterprise specializing in the production of atomic icebreakers and cruisers for the Russian Navy.
The Northern Machine-Building Enterprise, located in Severodvinsk, is one of the city-forming in the city. Actually, the city itself appeared in 1936, as a working village at the newly built shipyard. The first ship was laid at the enterprise on December 21, 1939. The company is engaged in the construction, repair and modernization of nuclear submarines and surface warships.
Ship repair center "Zvezdochka"
Also in Severodvinsk there is a large center for the repair of ships of various classes "Zvezdochka". Along with the Northern Shipbuilding Enterprise, this center is a city-forming for Severodvinsk. The company appeared at its current location in 1946. The main facilities are located at the mouth of the Northern Dvina River and the water area of the Dvina Bay of the White Sea.
One of the important specializations of the industry of the Arkhangelsk region is the disposal of decommissioned nuclear submarines. This process requires special skills from personnel and special technologies from the enterprise.
During its existence, Zvyozdochka repaired and refurbished one hundred and twenty submarines, of which 85 had a nuclear installation. 240 ships of various classes and purposes were built. Although the main customer of the enterprise is the Russian Navy, the repair of civilian vessels is also being carried out.
Electrical Engineering
A large number of shipbuilding and ship repairing enterprises in the region creates favorable conditions for the development of related industries. The Arctic association, located in Severodvinsk, specializes in the production, repair, maintenance and configuration of electrical and high-tech equipment.
Despite the fact that the company has every opportunity to carry out work on a wide range, mainly its customers are the fleet and shipyards.
The company's specialists not only produce, but also carry out the installation of electrical and fiber optic networks on ships.
Fisheries
The fishing industry of the Arkhangelsk region has historically been one of the main activities. For several centuries, people have been fishing in various ways on the shores of the Kara, White and Barents Seas.
The waters of the northern seas are rich in haddock, cod, salmon, halibut and capelin. Despite the fact that until the nineties in the region there was an extremely intensive catch of fish, its stock was restored thanks to wise use.
Today, nineteen enterprises in the region have quotas for commercial fishing and coastal fishing. Fishing companies operate in inland waters, the exclusive economic zone of Russia, on the continental shelf, as well as in the Norwegian Sea and in the economic zone of the Faroe Islands.
A significant portion of fish caught is sent to foreign countries. In the region there are three fish processing plants, which produce preserves, salted and smoked fish, and also produce various semi-finished products. In addition to the extraction of sea fish, aquaculture cultivation is also carried out in the region.