The main item on the agenda – coal industry development.
Dmitry Medvedev’s opening remarks:
Government meeting
Good afternoon, we’ve started working really hard – this is the second Government meeting this week. I hope nobody is tired yet.
I’d like to tell you that following our work in Crimea I’ve signed a protocol of the Government meeting with instructions on the issues we discussed and the decisions we adopted. They concern the need to promote Crimea’s comprehensive socio-economic development. I’d like to ask you to focus on implementing these instructions quickly and with due responsibility.
We’ll start our meeting today with the long-term development of the coal industry. Let’s review the Energy Ministry’s relevant programme up to 2030.
The coal industry is one of the main sectors of the fuel and energy complex. It has been doing fairly well in the past 10 years, registering decent growth rates: output exceeds 350 million tonnes of coal a year; labour productivity is going up; investment is being attracted to the modernisation of fixed assets and formation of production and enrichment capacities; and much attention is being paid to the occupational safety of miners.
The document suggests updating the tasks and deadlines of the programme and its expected results; taking a fuller account of modern trends at different markets (determining what is topical not only for the coal industry but also for others); paying more attention to the Asia-Pacific Region; and establishing new production centres in Eastern Siberia and the Far East.
The draft programme consists of seven subprogrammes. It provides for the resolution of social issues, including guaranteed social payments, additional pension support to the industry’s former employees, and continued demolition of decrepit housing at development sites. All expenses for implementing the programme’s measures are estimated at over five trillion roubles for the entire period.
One of the expected results is an increase in the annual average increment in the coal reserves to 530 million tonnes. The programme provides for introducing new capacities (for a total of 505 million tonnes) and upgrading the existing ones (for about 370 million tonnes). It envisages bigger supplies for the domestic market and exports and the development of the railway infrastructure and port terminals. The programme provides for reducing the energy-output ratio by 33% and increasing the production of synthetic liquid fuel.
Dmitry Medvedev: "One of the expected results is an increase in the annual average increment in the coal reserves to 530 million tonnes. The programme provides for introducing new capacities (for a total of 505 million tonnes) and upgrading the existing ones (for about 370 million tonnes). It envisages bigger supplies for the domestic market and exports and the development of the railway infrastructure and port terminals. The programme provides for reducing the energy-output ratio by 33% and increasing the production of synthetic liquid fuel."
I’d like to point out right away that it is hard for coal to compete with gas in the economic and environmental contexts. Nevertheless, as a state, we are interested in diversifying our energy balance and in promoting the emergence of a modern and eco-safe coal generation environment.
After our meeting, I will hold a session on the Kaliningrad Region’s energy. In this region, coal generation is viewed as a supplement to the existing and developing gas stations.
The Minister will describe all proposals, and we’ll also listen to Vladimir Rashevsky, a member of the Government’s Expert Council.<…>
Today, we’ll also review a draft of the federal law that regulates an opportunity for the President or the Government to delegate federal powers to the regions. This document has been discussed for a long time. The need to adopt a draft law in this version has been long overdue. The current mechanism often delays the adoption of managerial decisions. This issue has become even more urgent in connection with Crimea’s reunification with Russia. It is necessary to resolve tasks without delay, avoiding red tape formalities (we discussed this issue during the visit to Crimea).
Dmitry Medvedev: "We’ll also review a draft of the federal law that regulates an opportunity for the President or the Government to delegate federal powers to the regions. This document has been discussed for a long time. The need to adopt a draft law in this version has been long overdue. The current mechanism often delays the adoption of managerial decisions."
The new mechanism will allow the President and the Government to delegate federal powers to the regions by adopting relevant decisions. The terms for delegating powers will also be adjusted. Giving more independence to regional governors has been suggested. At the same time, they will bear higher responsibility for the transferred powers.
So the first item is the coal industry, its development to 2030.
Mr Novak, go ahead please.
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