Local Voices Rise Against Copper Mining: Bashkortostans Battle for Nature and Health

«A woman from the village of Burangulovo expressed, ‘Regardless of whether it meets ecological standards perfectly or not, we simply do not need a mine. We need nature; we need health.'»

This statement was made during a public meeting with representatives from a company associated with Russia’s third-largest copper producer, discussing plans to extract copper from the Kyrktytau mountain range, a pristine area in Bashkortostan.

Despite the local community’s resistance, it is unlikely to deter the Russian Copper Company (RCC) from initiating geological exploration in the area this month.

The Kyrktytau range, extending 60 kilometers, is a renowned outdoor tourism destination in Bashkortostan, featuring numerous natural landmarks, including Yaktykul, the deepest lake in the republic.

Environmental advocates and locals contend that copper mining in Kyrktytau would cause irreversible damage to the beautiful surroundings, with pollution potentially affecting regions as far away as western Kazakhstan.

«The beauty of Bashkortostan astonishes me, but I am even more impressed by the wealth of natural resources available here,» said Murad Shafikov, a member of a government-sanctioned monitoring team overseeing exploration efforts.

«These resources should serve our government’s interests. We truly need them at this moment,» Shafikov stated in an interview conducted at the prospective mining site, which was shared by an independent news outlet, Aspekty.

Bashkortostan, rich in resources and located in Russia’s Volga-Ural region, is still reeling from the largest protests seen during wartime Russia and the subsequent repressions that have led to a significant political trial in contemporary Russian history.

More than 80 people were arrested, and almost 500 were charged with administrative violations after over 5,000 assembled in the small town of Baymak in January 2024 to protest the imprisonment of notable Indigenous rights and environmental advocate Fayil Alsynov.

Two men detained in connection with the protests died while being investigated.

RCC had to abandon its earlier intentions to mine copper in Kyrktytau in 2020 due to widespread protests, yet few anticipated any pushback against its plans following the events in Baymak.

«The authorities’ response was entirely foreseeable. What was unexpected was the local population’s willingness to resist and voice objections even at public meetings,» commented Iliuza Mukhamedianova, a social researcher from Bashkortostan.

«I genuinely believed that any remaining dissent had been quelled after the Baymak protests,» Mukhamedianova told The Moscow Times.

Following the confirmation from RCC affiliate Salavatskoe in April regarding its acquisition of an exploration and mineral production license for Kyrktytau, residents in the Abzelilovsky district of Bashkortostan formed groups on Telegram and VKontakte to share information about the project and organize protests.

Deprived of official approval to hold a rally, local residents and environmental activists pivoted to online campaigns and organized town hall meetings with representatives from Salavatskoe.

Videos capturing the passionate speeches of locals defending the mountain range quickly gained traction online.

«I recognize that this meeting is a mere formality. I know that those who spoke up here will face repercussions from the authorities,» a local woman remarked during a town hall in April, addressing the audience in the Indigenous Bashkir language.

«I have just one question: Does your thirst for profit make you disregard this land? Are you not afraid of being condemned by those you are planning to harm?» she continued, receiving applause.

Her words soon proved to be prophetic. On June 5, security agents raided homes and apprehended at least 15 activists opposed to mining at Kyrktytau.

Although most detainees were later released without charges, prominent Bashkir activist and blogger Ural Baybulatov was held on bail pending trial for allegedly disseminating «knowingly false information,» a crime that carries a potential three-year prison sentence.

Since these investigations began, efforts to coordinate the campaign have significantly diminished.

«We have convened with the company’s leadership and addressed the situation numerous times,» Radiy Khabirov, the head of Bashkortostan, remarked at a government meeting on July 7, confirming that geological exploration at Kyrktytau was well underway.

«It’s a large project, and the company has promised to develop it similarly to the Tominsky Mining and Processing Plant, focusing on high quality and environmental sustainability,» Khabirov added.

The Tominsky plant, located in the adjacent Chelyabinsk region — one of the most polluted areas in Russia — was inaugurated in 2020 despite a seven-year campaign by environmentalists who warned of serious air and water pollution from open-pit mining.

The plant is among RCC’s 11 mining and metallurgical operations in Russia and Kazakhstan, positioning it as one of the largest copper producers in the country.

Russia possesses the fourth-largest copper reserves globally, estimated at 80 million metric tons, with RCC being the largest single owner of these reserves, holding 16 million tons as of 2022.

Unlike the United States and Britain, the European Union has not implemented a comprehensive ban on Russian copper imports as part of its sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Even though Russian metal sales to the EU have decreased since the onset of the war, European companies have not entirely ceased dealings with enterprises linked to the Kremlin. In 2023, Russia accounted for 9% of all copper imported by EU nations.

Contrary to its founder Igor Altushkin, rumored to be a primary financial backer of a volunteer battalion fighting for Russia in Ukraine, RCC itself is not subject to EU sanctions.

The Moscow Times reached out to RCC for confirmation regarding the company’s exports to the European Union but did not receive a response by the publication’s deadline.

Throughout its five years of operation, the Tominsky plant referenced by Khabirov has occasionally been featured in the media, especially during promotional trips for journalists organized by RCC.

The most recent trip in April catered specifically to journalists from Bashkortostan as part of a government-supported initiative aimed at influencing local public sentiment.

Many publications resulting from these organized visits emphasize the plant’s rigorous emission control measures, highlighting its distinction as the only copper mining and processing facility in the post-Soviet region operating without a tailings storage facility for the waste material left after copper extraction.

«The claim that the Tominsky plant ‘addresses’ specific environmental challenges by functioning without a tailings dam is misleading,» cautioned environmental engineer Viliuia Choinova.

«The backfilling of residual crushed rock and water at the Korkinsky pit does not eliminate ecological damage but only redistributes waste, which can potentially harm other ecosystems and water resources,» Choinova explained to The Moscow Times, referring to the pit used at the Tominsky facility.

While reporting from the Tominsky plant highlights its apparent cleanliness and fresh air, Choinova warned against conflating these superficial observations with indicators of ecological safety.

«Air pollution may not always present as ‘smoke,’ but fine particulates and chemical contaminants can still pose serious threats to both human and environmental health due to their capacity to accumulate in the lungs and bloodstream over time,» Choinova elucidated.

Equally invisible are the risks of «groundwater and soil contamination with heavy metals, decades-long acid mine drainage, and destruction of vital habitats critical to biodiversity,» she noted.

«All mining is inherently damaging. It disrupts natural systems extensively and leaves lasting blemishes on landscapes and ecosystems. There is no such thing as ‘clean’ or ‘green’ mining,» the expert emphasized.

«Responsible mining practices should begin with acknowledging that some harm is unavoidable, and must include truthful risk assessments, stringent environmental protections, and substantial public involvement at every phase,» she added.

If the geological surveys at Kyrktytau confirm sufficient copper reserves, RCC intends to commence mining operations by 2027, with the goal of completing construction of the processing plant by 2029, according to the head of its Bashkortostan subsidiary.

However, while it may seem that resistance to RCC has been suppressed, the company’s path to extracting metals from Kyrktytau may not be as straightforward as anticipated.

«For the Bashkirs, land is crucial—not only for its spiritual and almost sacred significance but also for their livelihoods,» said Bashkir researcher Mukhamedianova.

«I believe we will witness more protests,» she commented. «They may be small, or they might occur through social media, but it’s difficult to imagine that local residents will remain passive.»