Thanks guys.

Quote Originally Posted by scotcher
I reckon "investment in exploration" would be totally unambiguous.
I was tempted to use "investment in exploration" in the first place, but then I was pointed out that the Russian term also covers development of previously explored deposits that were found unsuitable for development at the time because they were either too hard to develop with then-current technologies or hard to access (located in areas without roads or any other infrastructure). If now their development becomes commercially feasible, it also comes under "replenishing the resource base."

Quote Originally Posted by doninphxaz
The phrase sounds so bureaucratic that an average reader would ask himself, "What they heck are they talking about?"
That's how the entire paper sounds in Russian .

Quote Originally Posted by doninphxaz
I would be tempted instead to say "investment in developing additional natural resources."
That would probably work, but I have sent in the translation already.

Quote Originally Posted by doninphxaz
On another point, "quill-drivers" is an odd term. I can't say I've ever heard it before in English. I assume you mean "pencil-pushers"?
Hehe. I guess it is too obsolete, but I couldn’t think of any other phrase. The phrase was quite common in English literature in 19th century.

Quote Originally Posted by doninphxaz
I'd stick a definite article before the phrase in either case.
Okay