Parameters of Sustainable Development: Case of Arctic Liquefied Natural Gas Projects

Abstract

Effective management of the social and economic development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is today a significant scientific and practical task. It requires an integrated approach to meet the expectations of the state, business and society. The main drivers of growth for remote Arctic territories are large investment projects, which not only create production and sectorial results, but also stimulate the development of related sectors of the economy. Additionally, they contribute to the formation of modern infrastructure in the region and create conditions for the broad introduction of innovative technologies. The current problem with territorial development strategic planning is the assessment of the results that have been achieved. This includes approved lists of indicators that do not allow for a full assessment of the impact of the implemented projects. Assessment on the achievement of the region goals is also murky. This indicates a lack of consistency in regional development management. This article defines the importance of the indicators for an assessment of sustainable development management. The model of achieving external effects in project activities is described. The concept of sustainability of large-capacity complexes for the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is also formulated. Based on the needs of micro- and macro-environment projects, a list of indicators for assessing the sustainability of LNG projects has been proposed. On the basis of the proposed indicator list, a sustainability analysis of three Arctic LNG projects was carried out. Based on the example of LNG production, it was concluded that approaches to assessing the sustainable socio-economic development of the Arctic region and its industrial systems are interrelated, but there are differences between them.