Opportunities and prospects for resuming cobalt-nickel production in the Republic of Tyva
D.F. Dabiev1, N.S. Gichiev2, I.E. Otvagina3, Sh.V. Khertek4
1 Biosphere Research and Technology Center, Kyzyl, Russian Federation
2 Institute of Socio-Economic Research of the Dagestan Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Makhachkala, Russian Federation
3 Novosibirsk State University of Economics and Management, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
4 Tuvan State University, Kyzyl, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №4/ 2026 p. 191-194
Abstract: The purpose of this work is an economic assessment of the efficiency of recovering cobalt-nickel production in Tyva. Economic calculations based on the revenue method were carried out to assess the development of mineral deposits. The economic assessment of the project efficiency to revamp a nickel-cobalt plant, which involves capital investments of 4,182.4 million Rubles and the annual production of 100,000 tons of ore, demonstrates high economic feasibility. The projected Net Present Value is 727 million rubles, the profitability index reaches 12%, and the internal rate of return exceeds 13.5%. The discounted payback period for the investments is estimated as 12.8 years. The economic assessment also revealed a significant potential of the project in the context of achieving budgetary, social and environmental goals. The budgetary effect is expected to reach 324 million rubles. It is planned to create 840 new jobs, which will contribute to improving the social and economic situation in this Russian region. The introduction of modern technologies and environmental standards minimizes the negative impact on the ecosystem, ensuring sustainable development and conservation of natural resources. Thus, the project to restore cobalt-nickel production in the Republic of Tyva is a comprehensive and multidimensional investment project with a high potential to stimulate industrial growth, improve the standard of living of the population and ensure the environmental safety of the region.
Keywords: Republic of Tyva, mineral deposit, nickel, cobalt, nickel-cobalt production, assessment of economic efficiency, budgetary effect, investment project
For citation: Dabiev D.F., Gichiev N.S., Otvagina I.E., Khertek Sh.V. Opportunities and prospects for resuming cobalt-nickel production in the Republic of Tyva. Russian Mining Industry. 2026;(4):191–194. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2026-4-191-194
Information about the article
Received: 10.03.2026
Revised: 12.05.2026
Accepted: 03.06.2026
Information about the authors
D.F. Dabiev – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Senior Researcher, Biosphere Research and Technology Center, Kyzyl, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
N.S. Gichiev – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Leading Researcher, Head of the Department of Theory and Methodology of Regional Development, Institute of Socio-Economic Research of the Dagestan Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Makhachkala, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
I.E. Otvagina – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor, Department of Information Technologies, Novosibirsk State University of Economics and Management, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sh.V. Khertek – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor, Department of Accounting, Analysis and Audit, Tuvan State University, Kyzyl, Russian Federation; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
References
1. Lebedev V.I. Vozrozhdenie kobal'tovogo proizvodstva v Tuve na baze osvoeniya zapasov Khovu-Aksynskogo mestorozhdeniya kobal'tovykh arsenidnykh rud i otkhodov ikh obogashcheniya. In: Balakina G.F. (ed.) Regional'naya ekonomika: tekhnologii, ekonomika, ekologiya i infrastruktura: materialy 2-y Mezhdunar. nauch.-prakt. konf., g. Kyzyl, 18–20 okt. 2017 g. Kyzyl: TuvIKOPR SO RAN; 2017. pp. 192–199. (In Russ.)
2. Dabiev D.F., Gichiev N.S., Otvagina I.E., Khertek S.V. Opportunities and prospects for the development of the mineral resource sector of the eastern and southern economic zones of Tyva. Russian Mining Industry. 2025;(4):140–143. https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2025-4-140-143
3. Lebedev V.I. The Khovu-Aksy cobalt-arsenide deposit, Republic of Tuva, Russia: new perspectives on the problems of production and renewal of processing. Geology of Ore Deposits. 2021;63(3):212–238. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1075701521030053
