(Left to right) Chukotka Governor Roman Abramovich, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and presidential representative for the Far Eastern Federal District Kamil Iskhakov in Chukotka
Photo: RIA Novosti
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The Prime Minister Visits Chukotka
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov began a visit to Chukotka Autonomous Area, in the Russian Far East yesterday. Chukotka Governor Roman Abramovich flew in from London to meet him and have his plan for the development of Chukotka's resources, for $4 billion, approved by the prime minister. The prime minister has promised to visit all the regions in the Far East and Transbaikal that are subject to government development programs.
The governor and prime minister toured Anadyr, the area's capital, and its surrounding area together, even traveling across the ice of the Anadyr Bay to see a gas generating plant. The prime minister complained that no appropriate aircraft had been found to take them to other parts of Chukotka, the most isolated area in Russia.
Abramovich chose not to speak for the occasion of the prime minister's visit, turning the floor over instead to Deputy Governor Andrey Gorodilov, who outlined three possible development scenarios for Chukotka through 2020. The first, and most preferred, scenario was the development of natural resource production in the area. The second was, in effect, turning Chukotka into a federal park. The third was financing the area from the federal budget at a loss.
Oil, natural gas, manganese, mercury and uranium can be produced in Chukotka, but the most promising resource at the moment is gold. The Canadian company Kinross is building a mine at the Kupol gold field and it plans to produce 19 tons of gold per year beginning in 2008. Highland Gold, another investor, plans to produce 8 tons per year at the Maiskoe field beginning in 2010. In addition, BHP Bilton will begin mining coal and Gazprom Neft will produce oil and natural gas in the area. All of those project require state support for geological exploration, transport and power, which will cost 106 billion rubles by 2020.
Fradkov promised 53 billion rubles in funding for the area. Then his traveling companions went to work. Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade Vitaly Savelyev promised 6-13 billion rubles through federal target programs. Deputy Minister of Transportation Alexander Misharin agreed to allot 3 billion rubles for the completion of the reconstruction of the local airport. General director of Rosenergoatom Sergey Obozov promised to extend the life of the Bilibinsky atomic plant, which is ready to be shut down now, 15 years, even though it runs at one-third capacity and produces a loss of 1 billion rubles a year. The prime minister commented that Chukotka would make a nice park as well.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Apr. 04, 2007
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