Petrosibir

English Svenska

About Bashkiria

Map of Bashkiria

Shelton Petroleum's Russian assets are located in Bashkiria, a federal subject of the Russian Federation. Bashkiria is one of the richest Russian territories in mineral resources. Also rich in crude oil reserves, Bashkiria was one of the principal centres of oil extraction in the Soviet Union.

Shelton Petroleum is far from the first Swedish-led enterprise in the region. The brothers Robert and Ludvig Nobel travelled to the region in the 1800's, searching for timber for manufacturing rifle parts in their St. Petersburg factories. After their travels in Bashkiria, the Nobels continued southward to Baku, where they would come to establish an oil empire with which only Rockefeller's Standard Oil could compete.

 

Investment climate among the best in Russia

According to a 2009 Deutsche Bank report on Russia, Bashkiria is among the top 9 regions with the best investment climate in Russia. Bashkiria is considered to have above-average investment potential and below-average investment risk. 

 

Population
Bashkiria has a population of 4.1 million and an area of 143,600 sq km. The capital, Ufa, is located in the centre of Bashkiria. According to the 2002 Russian Census, the ethnic composition of Bashkiria is 36 per cent Russian, 30 per cent Bashkir, 24 per cent Tatar, and 10 per cent other ethnic minorities.

 

Political structure
The head of government is President Murtaza Rakhimov, who has been president since 1993. Bashkiria's parliament is the one-chamber State Assembly Kurultai, to which representatives are elected every five years. The State Assembly has 120 deputies. The Constitution of Bashkiria stipulates that the republic is a sovereign state within the Russian Federation.

River Ay autumn

Geography
The Bashkirs call their republic "the Second Switzerland" because of its hilly landscape, numerous rivers and fresh air. Bashkiria is located south west of the Ural Mountains, less than two hours by plane from Moscow. The relatively mild climate allows for work all year round.

Bashkiria is perhaps best known in Europe for the Bashkir breed of horse, which the people have bred for more than 1,000 years. Bashkir horses are reared in large wild herds and are considered strong, intelligent and quick-thinking, as well as an appropriate breed for people with horse allergies. 

Bashkir honey is very sought after in Russia, particularly the type produced near forests of linden trees.