Investment projects range should be much wider - Rustem Khamitov

UFA, 15 February 2018. /Bashinform News Agency/. The Head of Bashkortostan Rustem Khamitov stated that the republican enterprises should expand a range of implemented investment projects. He mentioned it at a board session of the Ministry of Industry and Innovation Policy of the region.

According to the head of the republic, the investment activity of companies is decreasing. Positive trends of recent years were provided mainly due to major projects in oil refining, petrochemical and machine building. Currently most of these projects are completed or under completion. Therefore, new projects should be started. This issue, in particular, was discussed at the January meeting of the head of the region with the leadership of industrial companies.

"We have a number of projects for the next year or two – at Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat, Ufaorgsintez, Beloretsk Metallurgical Combine, Ufa Engine Production Association companies... Once again, Gazprom - is planning a mega-project for processing natural gas into olefins, although so far the progress is very slow", Rustem Khamitov said. "As a matter of fact, that’s all of such large and super-large projects. We need other projects. Their range should be much wider".

The Minister of Industry and Innovation Policy RB Alexei Karpukhin explained the decrease in investment activity by the completion of major projects by JSOC Bashneft, Akryl Salavat LLC, Bashmed LLC. In addition, a number of projects has been postponed.

At the same time, the Government of Bashkortostan signed agreements with 18 industrial enterprises on implementation of priority investment projects amounting to 190 billion rubles with creation of 4,000 new jobs. The commissioning of large industrial facilities is expected.

Thus, this year it is planned to launch two combined-cycle power units with a total capacity of 440 MW at Zatonskaya CHP. In 2018-2019 biogas power plants will start operating in Chekmagush, Chishmy, Alsheevo and Ufa districts. It is planned to implement projects in the timber industry complex with a total investment volume of about 18 billion rubles in the medium term.