Mr Andrey Kozitsyn GD of UMMC announced that in 2010 UMMC investment program on development of JSC, Sredneuralsky Copper Smelter is going to overtop EUR 1 billion.

According to Mr Andrey Kozitsyn, the most part of this contribution will be used for construction of effluent treatment plan and surface water handling system. These projects will make it possible to substantially reduce water consumption and start an advanced water recycling system. In addition, the UMMC General Director underlined one more issue to solve, namely the problem of slag utilization. At the moment the solid waste is worked over to be more actively used in road building.

Analyzing in general social and economic situation in the cities and towns, where UMMC enterprises are located, Mr Andrey Kozitsyn drew especial attention to the housing and public utilities. He supposed that we should rectify the present situation in the housing and public utilities in order to begin the next heating season ‘on absolutely new terms and grounds.

He said that the present situation, when utility rates climb above the level of the last year by more than 25% is absolutely unacceptable, that’s why we will make some re calculations. He stated some actions that could stabilize the state of affairs in this sphere, in particular elimination of all mediators, monopolization of housing and public utilities, introduction of a new united payment center ratification of utility rates just through the Regional Energy Commission etc.