Sustainability of China’s Overseas Special Economic Zones: Environmental Sustainability

In partnership with Columbia University

Last updated: 12 Days Ago

Evaluating the impact of SEZ development on land, water and air using satellite imagery, we identify examples of where zones appear to be succeeding or struggling to preserve and protect their local environmental conditions.

Sustainability of China’s Overseas Special Economic Zones: Social Sustainability

In partnership with Columbia University

Last updated: 12 Days Ago

Social sustainability revolves around how the zone treats its workers and the surrounding community. We observed variation in the provision of housing, training facilities and quality of infrastructure supporting workers' commutes.

Sustainability of China’s Overseas Special Economic Zones: Zambia

In partnership with Columbia University

Last updated: 12 Days Ago

Despite significant strides in implementing domestic regulation to curb environmental degradation, the Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone (ZCCZ) is an example of gaps that exist in China's sustainability practices overseas.

Mining North Korea: Magnesite Production at the Taehung Youth Hero Mine

Last updated: 195 Days Ago

Antiquated facilities, equipment, and processes, together with the continual plague of electricity shortages, will hinder any dramatic production increases of magnesite at North Korea's Taehung Youth Hero Mine.

North Korea’s Hydroelectric Power – The Tanchon Power Station Project

Last updated: 232 Days Ago

To help meet North Korea’s electrical energy needs, it has placed great emphasis on the use of hydropower. One strategy to improve this sector has been to shift focus from large-scale dams and hydropower plants to smaller ones, arranged in tiers.

North Korea’s Hydroelectric Power – Part II

Last updated: 276 Days Ago

North Korea has faced persistent challenges in generating sufficient electricity to meet its industrial and civil needs. While coal is a primary source of energy consumption, hydroelectric power is the predominant method of electricity production.

Mining North Korea: Magnesite Production at Ryongyang Mine

Last updated: 303 Days Ago

Ryongyang Mine is the largest magnesite mine in North Korea and one of the largest in the world. However, satellite and ground imagery show the infrastructure and technology in use at the mines is dated and obsolete when compared to world standards.

North Korea’s Hydroelectric Power – Part I

Last updated: 332 Days Ago

North Korea has faced persistent challenges in generating sufficient electricity to meet its industrial and civil needs. While coal is a primary source of energy consumption, hydroelectric power is the predominant method of electricity production.

A Snapshot of North Korea’s Supply Chain Coal Activity – Part II

Last updated: 425 Days Ago

Based on an initial look at North Korea's coal industry, the country's larger coal mines have remained active despite the increasing restrictions on the North's coal exports.

A Snapshot of North Korea’s Supply Chain Coal Activity

Last updated: 440 Days Ago

Despite increasing restrictions on the DPRK's coal exports, the country's larger coal mines have remained active from 2015 to 2019 and improvements have been made to its coal supply-chain infrastructure.

Making Solid Tracks: North Korea’s Railway Connections with China and Russia

Last updated: 510 Days Ago

North and South Korea are moving forward with inter-Korean railway cooperation as a key engine for advancing inter-Korean reconciliation and building the infrastructure for eventual unification. These projects will all be costly and time intensive.

Part 2: Ore Car Activity Up at Wonsan Railway Rolling Stock Complex

Last updated: 551 Days Ago

Update on North Korea's largest railroad rolling stock manufacturing and repair facility.

China’s BRI in Nigeria: Spillover Effects of Lagos-Ibadan Railway to the Regional Economy – Part 1

Last updated: 387 Days Ago

Despite anticipated positive impacts to the Nigerian economy, the Lagos-Ibadan railway has failed to generate positive economic spillover. Nigeria will need additional infrastructure investment to meet the promise of positive economic development.

The Ice Curtain: Kola Peninsula Part 1: Slow Modernization of Severomorsk-1 Air Base

Last updated: 82 Days Ago

Upgrades at Severomorsk-1 Air base increases Russia's operational readiness, presence, and capabilities in the northwest Arctic region, improving domain awareness and operational capacity around the Kola Peninsula. Further upgrades would expand operational capacity towards the GIUK-N Gap. However, GEOINT analysis shows slow construction progress.

The Ice Curtain: Enhanced Defense of Russia’s Western Arctic

Last updated: 163 Days Ago

Russia's military posture and the deployment of S-400s in its Western Arctic reflects the Soviet legacy of bastion defense comprised of "concentric circles" designed to protect strategic territory.

The Ice Curtain: Russia’s Military Moves Further North

Last updated: 243 Days Ago

Alexandra Land provides air-sea-land capabilities that reinforce Russia’s multi-layered maritime and air denial power; safeguard the Kola Peninsula which is home to Northern Fleet headquarters and Russia's control over the Northern Sea Route (NSR).

The Ice Curtain: Tiksi Airbase; Many Russian Announcements, Little Equipment

Last updated: 356 Days Ago

Current imagery does not show evidence of the Russian government's plans to expand Tiksi Airbase into a Northern Fleet air defense base, complete with 11 interconnected structures, and a regiment of S-400 surface-to-air missiles.

The Ice Curtain: Protecting the Arctic Motherland

Last updated: 404 Days Ago

A complex layered coastal defense arrangement on Kotelny Island allows Russia to better defend and to deny aerial, maritime, or land access to NATO or U.S. forces.

The Ice Curtain: Why is there a new Russian military facility 300 miles from Alaska?

Last updated: 473 Days Ago

In 2007 Russia re-prioritized the Arctic in keeping with Vladimir Putin's vision of restoring Russia's status as a great power. Now more than a decade later, Russia's military returns to the Arctic with strategic implications for the United States.