The preconditions for the formation of mineral and raw materials centers in the support zones of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation

The new version of the state program “Social and economic development of the Arctic zone” and the draft law “On the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation” have designated support zones as the main instrument for the development of the Arctic. Their main task, according to the specified documents, is the development of mineral and raw materials centers (MRCs) in the Arctic zone of Russia, attraction of investments, development of the Northern Sea Route and development of energy infrastructure. Therefore, the selection of promising mineral and raw materials centers in the support zones in the Russian Arctic is an urgent task. By actualization of information on the resource potential of the Arctic zone of Russia, it is possible to form a list of prospective MRCs, the development and support of which should be in the priority focus of public policy in this region. Equally important is the analysis of key risks such as financial, construction and geological risks that arise when creating and developing mineral resource centers and have a significant impact on the profitability of such projects. The paper suggests some indicators that assess the macroeconomic, social, geopolitical and innovative effects that arise in the development of MRCs and which should be used for evaluating the social and economic impacts of MRC projects in support areas. Also, it is necessary to take into account the social and economic importance of MRC projects and the impact of their results on the life of the population. As the primary approach in the selection and creation of mineral resource centers, the authors propose the use of the cluster approach. Such clusters will act as pivots in the spatial organization of the regional economy and will achieve the maximum multiplicative effect. In conclusion, based on the analysis, the authors formulated the main principles for the implementation of MRC projects, which include: the formation of a single geological exploration program, the joint development of nearby deposits, and the formation of complex socio-economic effects for the exploration areas.