Economics and industry

Before the 20th century, cattle breeding, hunting, and farming were the basis of the Yakutia economy. Now, industry is the most important economic sector, contributing 45.5% of the gross regional product.The main industries in the republic are mining, power and oil production. Read more...

Before the 20th century, cattle breeding, hunting, and farming were the basis of the Yakutia economy. Now, industry is the most important economic sector, contributing 45.5% of the gross regional product.The main industries in the republic are mining, power and oil production.
The mining industry accounts for a major share (75%) of the gross domestic product from industry. Non-ferrous metallurgy is the main contributor and accounts for 68% of the total industrial output.
The biggest diamond-bearing province is an area of 900,000 square kilometres which was opened by geologists in the west of Yakutia more than forty years ago. Now the republic is one of the major producers of raw diamonds both in Russia and in the world. One-fifth of the world's diamonds come from here. The most important centres of the diamond industry are the towns of Mirny, Aikhal, Udachny and Anabar. The republic exports raw diamonds but some diamonds are processed here. The on-site diamond processing industry is being developed along two lines: diamond cutting for high-quality jewellery and diamond cutting for industrial tools. Diamond mines and processing plants are equipped with modern technology, walking excavators, mills and other high-tech machinery.
A total of 32% of all the coal reserves in Russia are located in Yakutia. Sakha coal, predominantly brown coal, is used in power plants. It is supplied to the Russian Federation and also exported to Asian- Pacific countries.
The republic contains some of the major oil and gas deposits in the Russian Far East. In the north, gas and oil are of vital importance for surviving the cold winter. In 1967, gas pipeline was built to take gas from the Ust-Viluysky deposit to Yakutsk and in 1985, a gas pipeline was built to carry gas to Mirny. The main gas deposits are as follows: gas condensate deposits at Srednevilyuiskoye and Mastakhskoye as well as an oil and gas condensate deposit at Srednebotuobinskoye.
The main oil deposits are at Taas Uryakh, Botuobinskoye, Irelyakhskoye and Talakanskoye. The West Siberia-Pacific Ocean oil pipeline is under construction at the moment. When it is finished, it will take oil from Yakutia to the Pacific Coast.
The power industry forms 12.2% of total industrial production. The Vilyuisk hydroelectric system is the most powerful one in the Russian Far East. This system, along with the Neryungry and the Yakutsk power stations produces over eight billion kW-hrs (kilowatt hours) per year of energy.

The Sakha Republic extends for 2,000 kilometres from north to south and for 2,500 kilometres from west to east. This explains why the different means of transportation for the transport of freight are of vital importance. Read more...

The Sakha Republic extends for 2,000 kilometres from north to south and for 2,500 kilometres from west to east. This explains why the different means of transportation for the transport of freight are of vital importance.
In the old days, the main means of transporting people and goods for the Sakha was by using horses. For the indigenous minorities, it was reindeer and dog sleds.
Nowadays, cargo is transported into and throughout the republic by a variety of means. It travels via the river port of Osetrovo on the River Lena, by the north shipping route via the port of Tiksi and via the Yana, Indigirka, Kolyma and Anabar rivers in the northern regions of Yakutia, by the Amur-Yakutsk railway and by airlines linking Yakutia with many major cities in Russia.
Water transport is important and the main bulk of cargo in the republic is carried on water through six river ports (Yakutsk, Nijneyansk, Belaya Cora, Lensk, Olyokminsk and Khandyga) and two sea ports (Tiksi and Zelyony Mys). The main waterways of the republic are the following rivers: the Lena, the Vilyui, the Aldan, the Kolyma, the Indigirka and the Yana. Their general navigable length totals 12,300 km. Unfortunately, water transport can only operate during a 100-day period because in winter the rivers are frozen for months.
Rail transport is the second most important form of transport for moving freight in the republic now. It operates all year round and has a huge capacity. The coal industry is the main user of this form of transport. Annually, 9,000,000 tons of coal are transported by the Amur-Yakutsk railway. At present, the total length of the rail tracks in the Sakha Republic is about 400 kilometres. The next 400 kilometres of railroad, which will link the Baikal-Amur and Trans-Siberian railways with the republic, are under construction at the moment.
The total road network in Yakutia amounts to about 25,000 km and includes hard roads, gravel roads and winter motorways on the frozen rivers, which form nearly 50% of the total. Road transport is convenient for the delivery of small amounts of freight.
Air freight is important for transporting goods when there is no other way to get to a remote destination. The airport network in the Sakha Republic consists of thirty-seven airports, with fourteen being large airports.
Then there are the pipelines.The main gas pipeline in the republic is 1,818 kilometres in length. The West Siberia-Pacific Ocean oil pipeline is under construction. When finished, it will carry oil to the Pacific Coast. The development of the republic's economy is impossible without improvements in the transport systems. Without these improvements, the difficulties of transport might become a deterrent to companies and businesses.

The Television and Radio Technical Broadcasting Centre (TRTBC) is the centre for Russian and local TV and radio programmes. With thirty- four departments and 462 employees throughout the Sakha Republic it is an economically stable, developing company. Its symbol is the TV tower itself, which is controlled by TRBC. The tower, which was erected in 1983, is 241 metres high. When it was put up, the quality of TV broadcasting greatly improved.
The centre is mainly concerned with the establishing, developing and coordinating of broadcasts, and data transfer. It is also responsible for communication channels. Read more...

The Television and Radio Technical Broadcasting Centre (TRTBC) is the centre for Russian and local TV and radio programmes. With thirty- four departments and 462 employees throughout the Sakha Republic it is an economically stable, developing company. Its symbol is the TV tower itself, which is controlled by TRBC. The tower, which was erected in 1983, is 241 metres high. When it was put up, the quality of TV broadcasting greatly improved.
The centre is mainly concerned with the establishing, developing and coordinating of broadcasts, and data transfer. It is also responsible for communication channels.
Thanks to the centre, the whole population of the republic has been enabled both to watch programmes broadcast by the National TV Company, Russian First, Russia, TV-Centre, Culture, NTV and so on and to listen to the radio.
Reception of federal and regional programmes is done digitally. Using the regional satellite system 'Yakutia', which is transferred to digital mode DVB-S, a multi-service telecommunication net has been established. It is based on VSAT technology and aims to provide additional services including of video-conferencing systems, DSL Internet access, tele-medicine and distance learning, as well as the state database and corporate data acquisition. In addition, the centre has developed cable TV, multi-channel broadcasting systems and IP telephony.
Two important projects dealing with communication strategies have also been worked out by the Technical Broadcasting Centre. Both of them are supported by the government and their implementation will mean an increase in the republic's income.
A large amount of the company's profit is used
to modernise equipment and to carry out digital conversion. A great deal of attention is also paid to benefits for employees. The employees at the centre are well paid and acccording to their contracts employees receive a certain percentage of the profits the company makes. They are provided with health insurance, long holidays and travel payments (which also include family members). Job security is highly valued. The centre contributes to various charitable and public activities, supports culture and the arts and funds research projects. The centre has business connections with the ministries of the Russian Federation, the Association of Broadcasters and a number of other Russian and foreign companies. It is recognised as one of the leading companies in the Russian Far East and has received Russian and world recognition.