Economics

On Thursday, June 4, during the main business day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, a thematic session titled ”Rare, Strategic: Sovereignty and International Cooperation in the Field of REM and Critical Minerals” was held. It became one of the central events of SPIEF-2026. As noted by the moderator, Ilya Dronov, Managing Director of the RBC TV channel, everyone today talks about artificial intelligence, yet frequently forgets that its very existence is owed to rare-earth metals.

”Forpost” examined the experience of one of the leaders in Russian petrochemistry. If a ranking of major domestic companies based on business activity for the first two months of 2025 were compiled today, the ”Titan” Group would undoubtedly be among the top contenders. Here are the key facts. The ”Omsk Rubber” plant, the flagship of the group, completed a major project for the full automation of propylene-propane fraction production. This is an intermediate product in the manufacture of several essential items in the petrochemical industry.

Is it possible to increase gold production? Or are we facing a metal shortage and, consequently, a rapid rise in its value?

According to the expert, resource independence can be achieved through the formation of new geological knowledge, as well as improving the quality level of training of engineers and scientific personnel.

Ректор Горного университета Владимир Литвиненко стал гостем программы «Полный контакт с Владимиром Соловьёвым».

Researchers at the Colorado School of Mines - considered the best university in the world for the quality of mining training - have identified a paradox that threatens the sustainability of the entire human race. On the one hand, our civilization is consuming more and more resources. Moreover, the energy transition, that is, the massive adoption of renewable energy on a global scale, is only increasing the demand for many different metals.

The Rector of St. Petersburg Mining University Vladimir Litvinenko’s speech at the International Forum ”Nature Management and Conservation of the World Natural Heritage”, dedicated to the need to strengthen the role of the state in the regulation of the mineral resource complex, caused a wide public response. Scientists, politicians and heads of specialized companies are unanimous in their assessments: the government must develop a transparent and effective strategy for managing the extraction and processing of resources.

Is it possible to find a balance between field exploitation and environmental protection?

The collective West’s decision to impose a ceiling on the world price of Russian oil transported by sea has provoked extremely contradictory reactions in Western countries themselves

Specialists from St Petersburg Mining University have started building a model of the first well at the Sablino training and research site, where domestic oil and gas equipment is to be tested