The Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of Russia, Alexander Kozlov, presented to the deputies of the State Duma Committee on Ecology, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection a draft three-year budget for the environmental sphere of the country, and also told about the next plans. In particular, the extension of the national project "Ecology" until 2030.

"We propose to expand the nomenclature of the national project - not just ecology, but "ecology and nature management". Changes will also affect the composition of federal projects. Three projects are planned to be transferred from socio-economic development initiatives. These are "Geology: the Revival of a Legend", "Closed-loop Economics", "General Cleaning". So, in our geological federal project, we will immerse a new program for the geological study of the Far East. The starting point for its creation was the order of Vladimir Putin. Additional geological exploration will allow the discovery of about one thousand new deposits with a good level of reserves in the Far East. Our supervising Deputy Prime Minister Victoria Abramchenko has agreed on the main parameters of the updated national draft. Now we have sent the documents to the interdepartmental group under the Ministry of Economic Development. We are waiting for a decision," said Alexander Kozlov, Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of Russia.

As for the general budget of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation for the next three years, all major environmental and environmental measures have been funded.

"The key priorities of the budget bill are the priorities outlined by the President of Russia. And the president always defines the environmental agenda as one of the most important, and we certainly continue to deal with it and do not deviate from the goals that we originally set for ourselves. 541 billion rubles will be allocated for the implementation of state programs in the field of ecology and natural resources in three years," said Irina Okladnikova, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Finance of Russia.

In particular, the budget provides for almost 88 billion rubles for subsurface use for three years. For example, for the reproduction of hydrocarbon raw materials – 24.8 billion rubles, purchase of geological equipment, experimental and methodological support, expertise of reserves and geological projects - 21.1 billion rubles, regional geological exploration - 16.4 billion rubles, reproduction of drinking groundwater – 600 million, geological exploration of groundwater in water–deficient regions – 200 million rubles.

"Natural resources provide a significant part of the federal budget. Oil, gas, coal, precious metals and others. Therefore, in all state programs, it is important to pay special attention to the smooth operation of these sectors of the economy. We will fully meet the internal needs of the country. The new territories of our country have not been forgotten, special attention has been paid to them," said Dmitry Kobylkin, head of the State Duma Committee on Ecology, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.

A little more than 162 billion rubles are provided for activities under the state program "Development of Forestry" for a three-year period. Annual funding is increasing. So, in relation to 2023 – in 2024 it will be 4.4 billion more. This money will allow, for example, to conduct forest pathology examinations on an area of 545 thousand hectares, to increase salaries due to an increase in the minimum wage. The amount planned for fighting forest fires is exactly the same as in 2023 - 14.4 billion rubles. This will allow us to keep aviation monitoring at the level (over 53.3 thousand flight hours), and the number of paratroopers in the regions (over 4.4 thousand people).

Almost four billion rubles in 2024 are provided for the liquidation of nine objects of accumulated damage in the Volga River basin. And one billion for the restoration of water bodies and the reconstruction of culverts. 10.8 billion rubles are provided for the project "Preservation of Lake Baikal": to reduce wastewater discharges, eliminate landfills and the legacy of the former BCBK. And for the completion of the construction of 14 dams in six regions of the Far East for 2024-2026, 11 billion rubles have been laid (Primorye, the Jewish Autonomous Region, Yakutia, Transbaikalia, the Amur Region, the Khabarovsk Territory).

Financing has been provided for the elimination of unauthorized urban landfills, hazardous facilities, the lifting of sunken ships from the waters of the bays. Money has been pledged for the Clean Air project, ensuring the work of scientists in the Arctic and Antarctic, and creating tourist infrastructure in national parks.

"Among other things, we are doing everything to not lower the bar on federal budget revenue every year. Last year, with a plan of 105 billion, we brought 126 to the budget. This year, the plan is 143 billion, we have already provided 84. These are receipts for the use of mineral resources, forest resources, water resources, environmental fees, payments and fines for environmental damage. For the planned three-year period, we have the task of ensuring budget revenues of more than 380 billion rubles. I am sure that we will cope with such a task," Alexander Kozlov said.

Now all federal agencies are defending their draft budgets at the relevant committees of the State Duma. After the defenses are passed, the general draft of the federal budget will be submitted to the deputies of the State Duma for consideration.

Author: Press Service of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia

Опубликовано: 11 October 2023