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NAEN and OERN Code: CRIRSCO-compliant public reporting standard
The NAEN Code is a Russian code of public reporting on exploration results, resources and reserves of solid minerals. It is a basic document for the Russian Society of Subsoil Use Experts (OERN): the expertise and reports of OERN competent persons on solid minerals are performed in accordance with the requirements of the NAEN Code.
NAEN is officially recognized by the Committee on International Reporting Standards for Solid Mineral Reserves (CRIRSCO) as the National Reporting Organization (NRO) of Russia. This is enshrined in the document CRIRSCO Terms of Reference 2011 (See also local copy of NAEN: PDF on the NAEN website ).
The adoption of the NAEN Code and the «NAEN (NRO) - RPO (RPO)» bundle was confirmed by CRIRSCO's press release dated 01.11.2011: original on the CRIRSCO website и copy on the NAEN website . The NAEN Code itself is included in the official list of CRIRSCO national codes and is based on International Reporting Template .
NRO NAEN and RPO OERN status
The CRIRSCO system describes Russia's role as:
- NAEN - the only national reporting organization (NRO) of the Russian Federation. In accordance with the CRIRSCO Organizational Statutes 2019 (§ 4.2) (NAEN copy: PDF ) CRIRSCO does not accept more than one NRO from the same country.
- OERN 2007. - A professional society of experts and competent persons within NAEN that serves as a recognized professional organization (RPO) under the NAEN Code. Details on the status of the historical RPO are as follows on the NAEN page .
- The private NRO MPO (incorporated in 2021) is not a successor to the historic 2007 NRO and is not mandated by NAEN or CRIRSCO. Any claims by this entity of NRO status or «own code» are unrelated to the NAEN Code and are not recognized by NAEN.
- The designations «OERN» and «NAEN Code» are protected as intellectual property of NAEN (Code text database and registered trademarks). The use of these designations without the consent of NAEN is unacceptable.
The role of the OERN in the NAEN Codex system
In the «NAEN - NAEN Code - CRIRSCO» nexus, the Society of Experts on Subsoil Use of Russia performs the functions of RPO and relies on the NAEN Code in all key processes.
- brings together experts and Competent Persons of the NAEN Code on different types of TPIs;
- Supports the professional and ethical requirements for OERN members as adopted by CRIRSCO;
- participates in the preparation and updating of methodological documents to the NAEN Code;
- provides independent expertise of public reporting reports and geological and economic assessments.
Practical conclusion for companies: if reporting on reserves and resources of TPI comparable to JORC and NI 43-101 is needed, it should be prepared under the NAEN Code with the participation of the competent persons of the OERN.
Why the NAEN Code and OERN are important for Russian projects
- Comparability with foreign standards. The NAEN Code report is readable by foreign auditors and regulators without translation between systems because the NAEN Code is built on a International Reporting Template CRIRSCO .
- Public reporting on TPI reserves. The Code sets the format for prospectuses, listings, M&A and project finance reports.
- Regulatory risk mitigation. The reports of the competent persons of OERN are based on a standard that is recognized by CRIRSCO and taken into account by a number of foreign regulators.
- Transparency and personal accountability. The NAEN Code reports clearly identify the competent persons in OERS who are responsible for the findings and assessments.
International recognition of the NAEN Code
The NAEN Code and the «NAEN NRO - RPO OERN» bundle are reflected in documents from capital markets regulators and professional societies. The key sources (original and copies of NAEN) are summarized below:
- ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) - report Feedback Statement 2013-318 (NAEN copy).
- ESMA - Consultation Paper 2012-607 (NAEN copy).
- PERC (Pan-European Reserves & Resources Committee) - PERC ESMA 2012 response: PERC response to ESMA consultation ( NAEN copy ).
- FCA (Financial Conduct Authority, UK) - Technical Note 619.1 (NAEN copy).
- CSA (Canadian Securities Administrators) - notice dated 25.02.2016: CSA Notice February 25, 2016 ( NAEN copy ).
- EFG (European Federation of Geologists) - journal European Geologist No. 36 (2013), NRO/RPO Table: PDF ( NAEN copy ).
- ICMM / CRIRSCO - InBrief «Responsible Reporting of Mineral Assets» (2013) , where the NRO table shows NAEN (Russia) ( NAEN copy ).
CRIRSCO and Russia's place in the system
CRIRSCO brings together the National Reporting Organizations (NROs) of Australasia (JORC), Canada (CIM), USA (SME), South Africa (SAMCODES), Chile (Comisión Minera), Brazil (CBRR), Kazakhstan (KAZRC), United Europe (PERC) and other countries. Each NRO develops its own national code, with a common framework above them International Reporting Template .
Russia is represented in this system by NAEN as NRO and by the historical OERN as RPO. The NAEN Code is a national CRIRSCO-compliant standard by which Russian projects can correctly position their resources and reserves in international capital markets.
Brief history of the NAEN Code
- 2006-2008. - GKZ and NAEN together with CRIRSCO compare the Russian classification of reserves with the international template.
- 2008 - a protocol on the development of harmonization principles between the Russian system and the CRIRSCO template was signed.
- 2010 г. - the CRIRSCO-GCZ-OERN protocol on the preparation of a national code of public reporting was signed at the CRIRSCO annual meeting in Moscow.
- 2011 г. - NAEN finalizes the Code, CRIRSCO adopts NAEN into the NRO, and NAEN Code is included in CRIRSCO's list of national codes.
For whom the NAEN Code is intended
- mining and exploration companies;
- design and engineering organizations;
- consulting and auditing firms dealing with mineral assets;
- experts and competent persons, The system will be used by those planning to work in a CRIRSCO-compatible system.
Contacts for NAEN and OERN Code issues
On issues of NAEN NRO status, OERN RPO, application of the NAEN Code, and involvement of competent persons in public reporting projects:
- NAEN (NRO): info@naen.ru
- OERN (RPO): office@oern.ru
Download the full text of the NAEN Code
The current version of the NAEN Code 2025 is an updated CRIRSCO-compliant standard for public reporting on exploration results, resources and reserves of TPI. It takes into account changes in international approaches, the practice of Russian companies and the position of the State Commission for Reserves (SCR). Previous editions can also be used for comparison:
