mono-town baikalsk: consequences of economic crisis vera kuklina, researcher of v.b. sochava...

Mono-town Baikalsk: Consequences of economic crisis

Vera Kuklina, Researcher of V.B. Sochava Institute SB RAS, Irkutsk, [email protected]

Mono-towns:

• 1) Percentage of workers in the main enterprise or in a group of technically connected enterprises is no less than 25% of economically active population.

• 2) The value of the output of the enterprise or the group of enterprises is no less than 50% of total production of the settlement

Vera Kuklina Mono-town Baikalsk 2


Economic structure of Baikalsk in 2006


1 – lake 3 – power lines 5 – Transsiberian railway

7 - industrial area 9 – cottage area

2 – rivers 4 – federal highway 6 – settlement 8 – dachas 10 – ski resort area


Lake Baikal

• The world’s largest reservoir of fresh water The world’s largest reservoir of fresh water • In 1987 - Resolution of Soviet Government, “Measure for further provision for

rational use of natural resources of Lake Baikal basin in 1987-1995” • In 1996 – placed on the List of the World Natural Heritage In 1996 – placed on the List of the World Natural Heritage • In 1999 - Federal Law “Protection of Lake Baikal”In 1999 - Federal Law “Protection of Lake Baikal”• In 2001 - Federal In 2001 - Federal Resolution “Confirmation of the list of activities prohibited in “Confirmation of the list of activities prohibited in

the central ecological zone of Baikal natural territory” prohibited paper and the central ecological zone of Baikal natural territory” prohibited paper and pulp productionpulp production

• In January 2010, V. Putin signed the Decree of the Russian government In January 2010, V. Putin signed the Decree of the Russian government “Changes in the list of activities prohibited in central ecological zone of Baikal “Changes in the list of activities prohibited in central ecological zone of Baikal natural territory” allowing the pulp and paper productionnatural territory” allowing the pulp and paper production


City of Baikalsk

• In 1958 the news about construction of paper plants at the basin of Baikal stimulated development of an environmental protest movement

• In 1961, the City of Baikalsk was founded


Industrial area• In 1966, the Baikalsk Pulp

and Paper Mill began to work

• 1969 – industrial logging in Baikal basin was restricted

• 2008, Aug. – the closed cycle on BPPM was put online

• 2008, Sept. – the plant ceased operation

Former Mill Workers



0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

people

specialization

Differentiation of laid off & unemployedtown-dwellers by gender & specialization

laid off during 01.10.2008-04.05.2009 unemployed women men


Environmental problems• 14 uncovered dumpsites of industrial waste on area of 180

hectares • In 2002, the 10 Solzan dumpsites alone held about 250,000

tons of lignin sludge• In 1973 a factory was built to dry and burn the lignin sludge • 3 Babkha dumpsites contain ash of lignin and residential

solid waste• One dumpsite is in the area of the mill• In case of floods, mudflows, earthquakes the content would

flow to Baikal.

Motivations to refuse the courses

• absence of guarantees for employment after completing the courses

• lack of placement opportunities and training internships.

• perception of age challenge by people older 40

• loss of unemployment payments during the time of the courses


Inefficiency of “anti-crisis measures”

• High expectations from former workers• Absence of independent decision-making by

local authorities• Return of state paternalism• Prolonging the solution of social, economic

and environmental problems by reopening the obsolete mill after departure of many specialists.


mono-town baikalsk: consequences of economic crisis vera kuklina, researcher of v.b. sochava...

Documents

baikalsk pulp

unemployed towndwellers

economic structure of

pulp productionin

list of activities

federal highway

industrial areain

world natural heritage