The immediacy of the problem under study is due to the fact that the devices for extraction of solid mineral deposits from the offshore fields are not effective enough and do not meet modern requirements regarding safety, productivity, energy intensity and environmental friendliness nowadays. The purpose of the article is to analyze the influence of hydrostatical pressure, determined by the depth of the capsule location, on the operational and energy characteristics of the proposed mining equipment and the dependence of system performance on the type of a dredge head and its parameters. The leading approach to analyzing this problem was the theoretical study of the processes of hydraulic hoisting and separation of nodules from the bottom, as well as experimental studies of the applied hydraulic motor parameters on the laboratory bench with the processing of results via the mathematical statistics methods and verification of the adequacy of theoretical provisions. As a result, it was found that the energy intensity of the nodule production process depends on the capsule location depth and varies according to the parabolic law; in this case, there is a mode of effective work of the facility to be determined by the model proposed in the article. It was also substantiated that the achievement of the facility performance required level is ensured by the application of a special dredge head, which has an annular channel between the driven hydraulic motor and protective cover, which geometrical dimensions are being determined with consideration for the maximum nodule size and required engine power. It has been experimentally proven that local resistances at the output of the driven hydraulic motor depend on the release coefficient when draining the power fluid into the environment. The materials of the article are of practical value for further studies in the field of determining a high performance technology for extraction of sea-bed solid mineral deposits, as well as during development of technical facilities for the underwater mining of nodules and other solid mineral deposits.

The article describes the current situation in the global uranium concentrate market, explains the reasons for the formation of an excess amount of finished goods and the subsequent decreasein prices. The authorsevaluated the prospects of using market mechanisms to improve the financial results of Russian uranium mining enterprises. The location of the main mining centers in comparison with the centers of consumption of finished goods, pricing for the products of uranium mining companies, the dynamics of price changes over the past 20 years, the influence of non-market factors on the supply of finished products are analyzed.This study led to the conclusion that the expectation of changes in the market situation is not viable in a long term. The authors outlined the direction to improve the profitability of mining enterprises by introducing technological changes aimed at reducing the cost of the final product.

Currently in the Russian Federation there is a large number of methods for determining the economic damage from environmental pollution. They make it possible to assess the quantitative damage caused by the industry to the environment and consider the environmental pollution factor when calculating the economic performance of enterprises. In general, all methods can be reduced to three main types, whose main advantages and disadvantages, as well as applicability for adjusting the performance of enterprises, and inclusion in environmental performance assessment are discussed in this article. The authors proposed a step-by-step procedure for including the factor of negative impact on the environment in the evaluation of companies' performance. First, a preliminary consolidated assessment is made by the method of specific damage. Secondly, the economic effect is calculated by the method of generalized indirect estimates. If necessary, clarification of calculations by the method of direct calculation is carried out. When calculating production efficiency indicators, considering the nature protection activities of the enterprise, a method of accounting for the prevented damage is proposed.