The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and the Federal Land Use Agency (Rosnedra) formalized a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the development of Russia’s mineral resources sector. The agreement was signed during the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, marking a clear commitment to collaborate on initiatives that modernize subsoil use and attract capital for geological exploration and field development.
RDIF’s leadership underscored the mutual benefits of combining financial capability with state expertise to drive the Subsoil Use Development Strategy forward. Kirill Dmitriev, RDIF’s General Director, remarked that the collaboration aligns with the Mineral Resources Base for 2035, emphasizing that the partnership will attract investment into geological surveys, novel technologies, and more efficient development of Russian deposits. This perspective highlights a pathway to expand the resource base while enhancing productivity and long-term value creation in the sector.
Evgeny Petrov, President of Rosnedra, added that the current perception of Russia’s mineral resources does not yet reflect their true potential. The joint efforts with financial institutions like RDIF are expected to unlock latent capabilities, fostering a balanced and predictable investment climate that supports both exploration and extraction activities. This stance signals a shift toward a more dynamic public-private collaboration in the minerals arena, with a focus on reliability and sustainability for investors.
The collaboration between RDIF and Rosnedra is designed to drive several priority directions. Foremost is the attraction of private capital to underpin geological exploration and the subsequent development of discovered deposits. The alliance also places emphasis on innovative underground extraction practices, aiming to raise the quality and value of geological information by deploying cutting-edge digital technologies in research and survey work. The goal is to identify mineral reserves with greater accuracy and at a lower cost, thereby improving the efficiency of resource evaluation and reducing the overall financial burden on exploration programs.
A notable component of the joint program involves establishing and expanding a fund dedicated to promising subsoil use objects. This fund would support pilots and scale-up opportunities, helping to translate scientific and technological advances into practical, commercially viable projects. In addition, the partners will collaborate on building a robust system for evaluating mineral reserves, integrating standardized methodologies and transparent reporting to bolster confidence among investors and regulatory bodies alike.
Beyond the immediate development of exploration and extraction projects, the RDIF–Rosnedra collaboration signals a broader strategy to modernize Russia’s mineral sector through digital transformation, data-driven decision making, and international best practices. The emphasis on high-tech tools—such as advanced analytics, digital mapping, and remote sensing—reflects a commitment to smarter resource management, lower environmental risk, and improved outcomes for communities near resource sites. By aligning strategic goals with practical financing mechanisms, the partnership aims to accelerate the pace of discovery while maintaining rigorous safety and environmental standards. [citation: RDIF press release, Eastern Economic Forum, Vladivostok]
Earlier, RDIF and PSB had announced a separate investment plan exceeding 20 billion rubles to support first-class hotel complexes and related infrastructure in Vladivostok, Kaliningrad, and Kemerovo as part of the broader Eastern Economic Forum agenda in 2023. This shows RDIF’s broader strategy of mobilizing capital to strengthen regional development alongside Russia’s mineral resources program, indicating a multi-faceted approach to economic growth in key federal districts. [citation: RDIF press materials, EEF 2023]