Geographical position of the Urals metallurgical base. Ural metallurgical base: characteristics

The Urals metallurgical base is the largest in the country. Most of the Russian steel and cast iron is smelted by the factories of this region. A lot of enterprises specializing in the production of nickel, zinc, copper, etc. have been built in this region. The geographical position of the Urals metallurgical base is considered quite convenient and economically profitable. Basically, due to this factor, the products manufactured here are characterized by a relatively low cost.

Metallurgy of Russia

Before we start to consider the specifics of the development of this industry in the Urals, we will find out what it is all over the country. Enterprises of ferrous metallurgy in Russia can deal with:

• Extraction of ore raw materials (iron, manganese and chromium);
• Extraction of associated raw materials (coal, lime, clay);
• Release of ferrous metals (cast iron, steel, rolled products);
• Production of cast iron and steel pipes;
• Release of coke and coke oven gas;
• Processing of secondary metals.

Non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises produce copper, nickel, zinc, etc. The importance of this sub-sector in the country's economy is quite large.

General characteristics of metallurgical bases in Russia

Most of the plants in this industry are located in the Siberian, Central and Urals regions of the country. The location of enterprises of ferrous metallurgy is mainly influenced by such factor as availability of fuel and raw materials base. Unfortunately, the places of coal and ore deposits coincide geographically. Therefore, the plants are usually built near the raw or fuel base, as well as between them.

Below in the table the brief comparative characteristic of metallurgical bases of Russia is presented.

These are the main indicators that characterize the metallurgical base of Russia. The Urals metallurgical base is the largest of all. Siberian - is in the development stage.

The largest enterprises of ferrous metallurgy in the Urals

Most of the plants in this region are full cycle production. Of the largest, we can distinguish Magnitogorsk, Novotroitsky, Chelyabinsk and Nizhny Tagil. These four enterprises account for 80% of all pig iron in the district and 70% of steel. There are other mills in this region, not so large: in Serov, Chusovo, Beloretsk, Alapaevka, etc. The largest iron ore deposit in the Urals is Kachkanarsky. Orsko-Khalilovskoye is considered to be the second most important. Almost all Russian chromites are mined here.

Geographical location of the Urals metallurgical base: features

This region is located in close proximity to fuel-rich Siberia and Kazakhstan, as well as having a serious scientific and technical potential of the European part of Russia. Of course, this neighborhood can not but affect the cost of the final product.

There is in the territorial position of this base and another plus. The Ural mountains are very old. They appeared millions of years ago and have now virtually collapsed. Therefore, minerals are found here almost on the surface and in most cases can be extracted by the open method.

The lack of coking coal reserves in the region can be attributed to the unfavorable factors. However, the geographical location of the Urals metallurgical base is such that it can be brought in quite simply from neighboring regions. In most cases, coking coals are purchased in Kazakhstan. Iron ore is partially imported from areas of the Kursk magnetic anomaly.

Magnitogorsk Combine

The Urals metallurgical base is represented by a rather large number of enterprises. Magnitogorsk Combine is not only the largest in Russia, but also in Europe. It was built in the 30s of the last century. The industrial premises of Magnitogorsk combine occupy a total of about 7000 hectares. This enterprise produces 20% of all products sold in the Russian market and has a full working cycle. The first stage of production at the plant is the extraction of ores, and the last is the deep processing of ferrous metal. About 40% of all products manufactured by this enterprise are exported.

Novotroitskaya "Ural Steel"

This combine is part of the Metalloinvest holding company and is one of the largest producers of pipe billets, strips and bridge steel in the country. It is located in the Orenburg region and is a city-forming enterprise of Novotroitsk. Its old name is the Orsk-Khalilovsky Metallurgical Combine. It was built not so long ago - in the middle of the last century.

Features of the economic and geographical position of the Urals metallurgical base are such that it is profitable to buy part of the fuel in Kazakhstan. In particular, this concerns the "Ural Steel". The Novotroitsk Combine is located right on the border with this state. During the collapse of the USSR, when economic ties with the former republics were interrupted, the enterprise experienced considerable difficulties. Now the situation at the plant has improved somewhat.

Among other things, this enterprise produces:

• Cast iron foundry and re-cast;
• Sheet and long products;
• Stamped products;
• coke;
• Slag blocks;
• ammonium sulfate.

Part of the production is exported.

Nizhny Tagil Combine

This is one of the oldest metallurgical enterprises in the country. Its construction began in 1720. The Urals metallurgical base, the geographical position of which at that time was not as profitable as it is now, then it was just beginning to emerge.

The first smelting at the Nizhny Tagil Combine took place in 1725. The main types of products manufactured by him today are:

• Wheels for trains;
• Rails;
• Channel sections, corners, I-beams, etc.

Non-ferrous metallurgy

Enterprises belonging to this group also have a significant impact on the economy of the region and the country as a whole. The Urals metallurgical base is the largest supplier of non-ferrous metals. In this region, there are factories producing zinc, copper, aluminum, nickel.

The largest enterprises are:

• OK Rusal;
• UMMC;
• Verkhne-Saldinsky association;
• OJSC Ufaleynickel;
• Kamensk-Uralsky plant;
• Revdinsky Plant of OCM and others.

Problems and development prospects

The geographical position of the Urals metallurgical base is quite profitable. But, unfortunately, in spite of even a number of recent reforms, the Urals remains a region that mainly exports unprocessed products. The most promising direction in the development of the region's industry analysts see the further cooperation of the metallurgical complex of the Urals and the fuel and energy base of Siberia. Particularly effective would be the cooperation of the factories of this region with the enterprises of the Komi Republic.

The main direction of development, in fact, of the mills should be the intensification of production. The Ural economic and geographical territory has one peculiarity: practically all the enterprises of the metallurgical industry are giants here and are very difficult to convert and modernize. Another problem of large plants in this region is that they react slowly to market changes.

In the near future, the Urals metallurgical base, whose geographic location remains sufficiently profitable with respect to the territorial structure, will remain the same. However, for today the state considers the modernization of production in this territory to be the main goal.