As part of the three-year agreement, the companies aim to explore a possible project to implement robotics and remote control of equipment at Pavlovskoe, which is currently under development.

First Ore-Mining Company, part of the mining division of the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, is hoping to build the most northerly mining and enrichment plant to produce lead and zinc concentrates, with a capacity of up to 3.5 million tonnes of ore per year.

Zyfra CEO Igor Bogachev said: "It is more difficult for companies to operate in extreme climatic conditions because of factors such as the high cost of resources and special work safety regulations."

He claimed that the robotised systems offered by its subsidiary VIST Group, including the Intelligent Mine solutions, would reduce equipment downtime by 10-20% and maintenance costs by 15-18%, thereby potentially cutting production costs by 2-3%.

The Intelligent Mine set of technologies includes automated surface load and haul systems, combined with artificial intelligence and predictive analytics capabilities.

"Rosatom State Corporation and First Ore-Mining Company have a strong focus on occupational safety. We are beginning this work in advance, so that the very first ore will be produced using advanced technologies in the safest possible conditions. Cooperation with Zyfra, which has extensive experience in developing digital smart solutions, will help us achieve this," said Igor Semenov, executive director of First Ore-Mining Company.

The companies will soon set up a working group to explore the potential of the project.