Russia (bbabo.net), - Each of us should know what Russia means in the global economy. This knowledge is everyday, a thinking person who is trying to understand our future cannot do without it. On whom we depend, and who depends on us. Everything seems to be simple, we are a great resource power. But what does this mean in detail? What do 146 million people do for themselves and for the whole world - say, in raw materials, in something that everyone cannot do without, no matter where they are and no matter how complex things they build their family life?
In 2020, Russia was in 2nd place in the world in terms of oil production (12.6% of the world pie), the United States - in 1st place (17.1%), Saudi Arabia - in 3rd (12.5% ). This trio leads by a multiple margin from the closest ones - Canada, Iraq, China. In the global production of natural gas, we are in 2nd place. The first is the USA. Russia and the US have a multiple lead over player number 3 - Iran. The share of Russia in world natural gas production is 16.6%, the share of the USA is 23.7%. What about coal? We are 6th in the world, after China, India, Indonesia, USA and Australia. The share of Russia in world production is 5.2%, the USA - 6.3%, China - 50.4% (British Petroleum).
All of this is something to be proud of. Fuel is the most complex technologies for exploration, production, transportation, large markets, stable large technical systems that are of key importance for the whole world. In the import of natural gas by the European Union, the share of Russia is 44-47%, Norway - 20-21%, Algeria - 12%, USA - 5-6%. Our supplies are critical to the EU. Either be warm or not. And what about oil? The EU receives approximately 25% of imported oil from Russia, we are partner No. 1. The EU receives 8-9% each from the USA, Norway, Kazakhstan, 6-8% each from Nigeria, Libya, Saudi Arabia (2020 - I half of 2021, Eurostat).
In a number of EU countries, life is generally impossible without fuel supplies from Russia. In the yard - geopolitical conflicts, sanctions, frost, but there is still a pipe as a reality, it is soldered into local economies, without it they still cannot exist. Russia is 75-100% of natural gas imports in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, 50-75% - in Germany, Sweden, Poland. For Russia - 75-100% of oil imports by Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Finland, 50-75% - by Lithuania and Poland, 25-50% - by the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania (I half of 2021, Eurostat).
We are in the honorable 4th place in the generation of nuclear energy (8% of the world volume). Ahead of all - the USA (30.8%), China (13.6%), France (13.1%). Isn't it worth paying tribute to the Russian scientific and engineering schools that keep one of the most complex industries in the world afloat and in development? You can argue as much as you like about the model of our economy, about what is wrong with it, but there are facts and they make us respect the fact that Russia is the 4th in the world in an industry that requires the highest technical culture.
In a number of EU countries, life is generally impossible without fuel supplies from Russia
We are the 5th in hydropower, behind Russia - 4.9% of the world's hydropower production. In first place is China (30.8%), 2nd - Brazil (9.2%), 3rd - Canada (9%), 4th - USA (6.7%). Strangely, such material facts (and there are hundreds of them) have no visible relation to our discussions, which are full of extremes. Some cry that we have been a citadel of evil in all ages, others - that only our earth is full of heavenly angels, but a thinking, rational person sees only one reality - a complex structure of the economy, a complex structure of our souls, a working system of a country on a huge scale, in front of which desperate challenges and which must find the right answers to them. If it goes to extremes, there can be many troubles, as in the 20th century.
Russia is only 1.9% of the world's population, but it makes much more in raw materials, and this is something to be proud of, since we do it, our society, ourselves, not anyone else. In terms of construction materials, we are in the big leagues. Aluminum smelting is in 2nd place in the world (5.5% of world production), after China (56.8%). In steelmaking, Russia ranks 5th (3.8% of world production). In 1st place is China (55.6%). In terms of copper production, we are in 5th place (4.2% of world volumes). And here China is ahead (39.2%). Everyone in childhood dabbled in molten lead. In terms of lead, Russia is No. 6 (5% of world production), China cannot be kept up (43.2%). In terms of nickel, we are No. 3 (11.2% of the world's volumes). For titanium - No. 3 (15.7% of world production), after China and Japan. For zinc - 10th (2.2%), first place - China (USGS, 2020). And finally, we are in 7th place in terms of uranium mining (6% of the world volume) (World Nuclear Association).
We will have to answer the question - how to become in the forefront in the most difficult things produced in the countries of the world?The list is actually a kilometer long, you read it with rapture. 1st in industrial diamond mining (35% of world volume), No. 1 in gemstone mining (32.4%), No. 3 in gold (9.4%), No. 4 in silver (7.2%) , No. 1 - in palladium (43.3%). In platinum - 2nd in the world (12.4% of the world volume). Cadmium - we are ninth, cobalt, magnesium, gallium, vanadium, germanium, silicon, tellurium - No. 2, molybdenum - No. 6, tungsten - third. Helium? We are in 4th place. Ammonia and potash? Russia is the second in the world. Is sulfur needed? We are No. 3 country, No. 4 in phosphate rock, No. 1 in asbestos, No. 6 in graphite, and No. 9 in cement (USGS, 2020).
Are we proud? Yes. Better understand our economy? Certainly! But if it were not only raw materials! If only we excelled in technology, equipment, consumer goods "all over the place"! It doesn't matter to us, sooner or later, we will have to answer the question - how to become in the forefront in the most complex things produced in the countries of the world? How to survive in their desperate competition among themselves? There is no clear answer yet, and it hurts in the chest.
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