A Coal Chemical Cluster in Kuzbass: between Oil, Gas and the Future?

Abstract

The paper reviews some aspects of the problem of restructuring the economy of the Kemerovo region (Kuzbass) that are related to creating a coal chemical industry. Over the past two decades, the authorities and experts have been promoting the idea of organizing a coal chemical cluster in the region, which they consider an efficient tool for increasing the Kuzbass economy competitiveness. In the 2010-s, the aim was to monetize coal, now – it is greening. The authors of the paper consider the decision to rely on coal chemistry as a driver of the long-term development of the Kemerovo region to be rather short-sighted. In their opinion, within 10–15 years it is possible to launch in the region a number of science-intensive enterprises for small and large-scale production of chemicals from coal, but no more. And coal-fired power industry – provided it is appropriately converted to environmentally friendly technologies – is able to act as a pillar of the coal segment of the Kuzbass economy. The region itself should make a “strategic pause” in order to get the most out of the existing core industries and create conditions for launching new businesses.