The paper focuses on the study of energy efficiency as a factor in the development of modern socioeconomic systems. Energy efficiency is considered to be a basis for the green economy model widely implemented in the developed countries. The purpose of the research is to compare current state of large Russian metallurgical companies with their leading world rivals, and reveal problems and opportunities in this sphere. The object of the research is the Ural Mining Metallurgical Company specialising predominantly in production of copper and copper products. The authors apply a method of time series analysis that involves the comparison of energy efficiency of copper producers according to the selected and justified list of energy efficiency indicators of a production complex. The findings of the research suggest that the Ural Mining Metallurgical Company significantly lags behind the leading copper producers in a number of key indicators of energy efficiency. The research proves that the utilized methodology is applicable and useful in attaining strategic development goals and improving energy efficiency of the Russian production complexes.