The impact of mining enterprises on the development of transport infrastructure in remote areas

Keywords: : remote territories, Todzhinsky kozhuun, Okinsky district, transport infrastructure
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Friday
Session Start / End Time: 2/25/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/25/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 59

Abstract

Industrial development is the main driving force in the development of the transport infrastructure of the remote regions. As such, it affects connectivities and accessibility of communities residing in those regions. However, the effects of infrastructure development induced by mining companies remain understudied. Methods of comparative geographical and statistical analysis and data generalization, network and problem approaches, in-depth and group interviews of local residents were used. The results of the analysis of publicly available data on the development and maintenance of specific transport arteries and materials of original field studies are presented. Materials of field research conducted in August 2021 in Toora-Khem settlement of Todzhinsky Kozhun, in October 2021 - in the village of Khuzhir, the village of Orlik, Okinsky District. The results of collecting data on the development and support of specific transport networks, as well as materials of the author's field studies, are presented, and pertinent comparative analysis is carried out. It should be noted that there is a duality in the attitude of the residents of the surveyed territories concerning proximity of mining companies: on the one hand, expectation of significant improvement in economic situation of their settlements at the expenses of miners and manifestation of obvious favorable attitude towards them, and on the other hand, simultaneous concern about accompanying environmental threats.