Digging for Riches: Inside Russia's Biggest Gold Supplier

Russia’s Polyus Gold International is the country’s largest producer and one of the top 10 gold miners globally. With bullion remaining a large part of many central banks’ reserves decades after they stopped using it to back paper money, Russia’s reserves have reached a record high of 1,353 metric tons, up 250% since 2005. Safe-haven purchases may continue, as Russia supports domestic gold producers and contends with weak oil prices, ruble depreciation and inflation. Polyus was formed in the 2005 spinoff of Norilsk Nickel's gold assets. Here we look at the company’s projects in Bodaybo, Russia. Photographs by Andrey Rudakov for Bloomberg