Mining Complex

In the field of mining complex development policy of the Government of the Republic of Karelia was built according to the Development of the Bowels and Mining Complex of the Republic of Karelia for 2000-2002-2010 republican target program.

Within the scope of its powers Government of Karelia solved tasks on governmental regulation of relations of subsurface resources management, reproduction of the mineral raw material base, development of the mining and metallurgical complex.

Last year it has been issued 36 licences to extract widespread minerals. By results of monitoring 23 decisions on preschedule termination of the right to use bowels were made, 55 users of subsurface resources were forwarded notices on the possible preschedule termination of the right to use bowels.

With a view of bringing legislation of the Republic of Karelia to correspondence with federal legislation, changes in Law of the Republic of Karelia On Some Issues of Subsurface Use in Territory of the Republic of Karelia in 2008 have been made, and normative legal acts directed on its realization have been accepted. The Program of Licensing of using sites of bowels for 2009 has been approved.

To involve new deposits of minerals in operation and also for more complete and rational development of their balance stocks in the republic the Mineral Resources subprogram of the Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Karelia for 2004-2010 republican target program is being implemented. During realization of the subprogram, revisory-appraisal work proceeded in 2008 in territory of North, Central and East Karelia to prepare objects of widespread minerals to inclusion in the licensing program of 2009 and the following years. Issues of search and evaluation of deposits of facing stone and ornamental stones along the Pitkäranta-Kolatselga-Pryazha motorway in territory of Pitkäranta, Suojärvi and Pryazha regions were considered. The database of distributed and unallotted fund of bowels of minerals was brought up to date through evaluation of opportunities of use and development of transport infrastructure of the Republic of Karelia, the balance of natural resources development of the Republic of Karelia was made.

In the last two years contribution of mining enterprises to industrial production of the republic has increased.

Management of Karelsky Okatysh (Iron-Ore Pellets), Inc., in the end of 2008 under conditions of influence of the world economic crisis has accepted the anti-recessionary program which provides measures on minimization of expenditure and actions on preservation of qualified professionals.

One of perspective directions of the mining complex development is extraction and processing schungites. In 2008 Government of the republic assisted in realization of investment project on development of the enterprise of Carbon-Schungite SPC, Ltd.

Production growth in extraction of minerals is appreciably provided with creation of the new enterprises producing high-quality road metal. Last year quarries in Sortavala and Byelomorsk regions have been put into operation, new crushed-stone factories in Suojärvi and Pryzha region have been constructed.

24 investment projects on extraction of building stone for production of road metal are realized in the republic. Within the scope of decisions of the Protocol signed by the Government the Republic of Karelia and Oktyabrskaya railway, branch of Russian Railways, Inc., work proceeds on involvement of investments for development of bowels along the low-density line of Suojärvi-Juškozero piece of line. In Muezersky region development of building stone deposits is actively conducted by Sever-Stroy, Ltd., Petro-Granit, Ltd., and Medvezhiya Gora, Ltd., enterprises.

Investment projects are also realized during modernization of the operating enterprises. In June 2008 in Prionezhsky region at the enterprise of Golodai Gora Quarry Joint-Stock Company the new Finnish road metal producing crushing and screening complex was put into operation,410 million rbl. was spent. On Granitnaya Gora, Ltd., in Pitkäranta region 17 million rbl. was spent on construction of a moorage, second line of the grinding-sorting factory and a parallel branch to Leppäsilta station dead-end track.

Government of the Republic of Karelia together with Norit Joint-Stock Company actively promoted Pudozh megaproject on all levels,time displacement of Medgora-Konosha piece of line projecting from 2015 to 2010 (within the scope of the Development of Transport System of the Russian Federation 2010-2015 federal target program).