The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has submitted important amendments for public discussion. They relate to the methodology for determining the starting payment for the right to use subsoil. This step is aimed at a more equitable assessment of resources and increasing state budget revenues.
The main innovation is a planned increase in the minimum one-time payment. Particular attention is paid to areas with placer gold. For them, the payment may increase by 20%. There are about six thousand such deposits in Russia. Business interest in them is always high, especially during periods of rising prices for the precious metal. The new methodology will more accurately reflect the real economic value of these assets.
The adjustment is also related to changes in tax legislation. Current mineral extraction tax coefficients for various types of minerals will be applied. This will affect not only gold, but also hydrocarbons, coal, and raw materials for the production of fertilizers. As a result, the total amounts of payments for subsoil users will be revised upward.
However, for some categories of plots the rules will remain the same. Benefits will remain for projects in the Arctic zone, as well as for deposits with hard-to-extract oil and gas reserves. This decision will support the investment attractiveness of complex and strategically important regions.
The proposed changes are aimed at modernizing the subsoil use system. A balanced approach will increase budget revenues taking into account market conditions, while maintaining conditions for doing business in difficult areas. Public discussion will continue until the final version of the document is approved.
The material was prepared with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science as part of the Decade of Science and Technology.
Source: @zolteh
