Prospects for diversification and development of Russia's resource-dependent regions in the context of global instability: the case of the Ruhr region

The Russian Federation, with its largest coal reserves, has one of the most powerful and developed coal industries in the world, occupying annually a leading position among the world's largest coal-producing countries. In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Law № 81-FZ of June 20, 1996, «On State Regulation of Coal Mining and Use, and on the Specifics of Social Protection for Employees of Coal Industry Organizations» coal and its products are considered the most reliable and socially significant energy sources. However, amid political instability caused by sanctions, declining coal consumption among importing countries, and socio-environmental threats, Russia's coal industry is in state of crisis. Consequently, constituent entities of the Russian Federation whose economies are directly dependent on the production of this energy resource have suffered enormous losses. This article analyzes the current socioeconomic situation of one of the country's most resource-dependent regions – the Kemerovo Region – Kuzbass – in the context of dynamically changing global processes and challenges facing the region, based on the official statistics, reports from federal executive bodies of the Russian Federation, and executive bodies of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The study formulates and presents potential development prospects for the region, as well as ways to di-versify the economy of Kuzbass, one of Siberia's largest regions.

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