The influence of mining companies on the development of the region was discussed at the New Horizons forum in Transbaikalia

The panel session “Mining industry of the Trans-Baikal Territory - shaping the future of the region” took place as part of the Trans-Baikal Foreign Economic Forum “New Horizons - 2026” in Chita.The speakers were Deputy Head of the Federal Agency for Subsoil Use Orest Kasparov, Head of the Analytics Department for the segment in the field of coal and peat industry of the Ministry of Energy of Russia Alexey Rogozhin, Acting Deputy Prime Minister of the regional government Pavel Volkov, as well as representatives of the largest mining companies concentrated in Transbaikalia - Udokan Copper and GRK Bystrinskoye, representatives of companies in related industries from the Irkutsk regionand Mongolia.

“In the period 2018-2025, investments almost tripled.It must be said that for the first quarter of 26, the data is very positive.The structure of the region's economy is such that it begins to be dominated by the extraction and processing of minerals, followed by the growing logistics industry.These are our drivers of the economy, which pull behind them all the activities associated with these industries,” said the acting director.Deputy Prime Minister of the regional government Pavel Volkov.

In particular, the panel session discussed the interaction between big business and government in creating the socio-economic attractiveness of the region.Director for interaction with regional authorities and communications of the Udokan Copper company, Irina Levkovich, spoke about joint projects for developing infrastructure and improving the quality of life in the Trans-Baikal Territory, incl.Kalarsky municipal district.Thus, before the development of the Udokan copper deposit, the airport in Char was almost on the verge of closure, flights were carried out twice a week, and the available energy capacity in the area was less than 10 MW.Today, the airport in the village of Chara receives two flights 7 days a week; the route network, in addition to Chita, includes Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk.As part of the first stage of the Udokan project, the necessary energy and transport infrastructure was built.

Thanks to joint efforts with the Government of the region and the administration of the Kalar district, the modernization of social institutions continues, cultural and sports events are held.Particular emphasis is placed on the educational sphere and training of future personnel.In 2024, on the basis of Novocharskaya Secondary School No. 2, with the participation of Udokan Med, a branch of the Trans-Baikal Mining College named after.M. I. Agoshkova.This year, the Udokan Copper company will accept 150 students for internship.

Also during the panel session, the emphasis was placed on maintaining existing instruments of state support for active businesses: preferential tax regimes, a mechanism for reimbursement of infrastructure costs, programs to support economic growth centers.According to experts, they have proven their effectiveness.For its part, the Udokan Copper company proposed returning to the discussion of the development of a mechanism to support the energy supply of capital-intensive projects in the Far East.

“Such forums are an example of the correct building of relations between business and government, an example of positioning large companies as socially responsible employers, including from the point of view of creating conditions for the attractiveness of the territory where one wants to live and work,” noted Irina Levkovich, director of interaction with regional authorities and communications of the Udokan Copper company.

Udokan Copper continues to actively implement the largest investment project to triple the production capacity of the Udokan mining and metallurgical plant.The project will allow the annual production of over 550 thousand tons of copper.The plant will become one of the largest copper production enterprises in the world.This will entail the creation of additional jobs, an increase in tax revenues to budgets of all levels, and a significant increase in the region's GRP.

The Trans-Baikal Foreign Economic Forum “New Horizons – 2026” was held in Chita on April 23 and 24.For the fourth time, the event became a visiting platform of the Eastern Economic Forum and brought together leading experts and representatives from Russia, China and Mongolia.

The forum was organized by the government of the Trans-Baikal Territory together with the Roscongress Foundation with the support of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Russian Ministry of Eastern Development, the Russian Ministry of Transport and the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources, the Trans-Baikal Territory Development Corporation and the Trans-Baikal Territory Tourism Agency.The general partner of the event is the Udokan Copper company.
Source: https://75.ru/news/442549