During his visit, Mr Putin was briefed on the EuroChem/VolgaKaliy project to develop the Gremyachin potassium salt deposits in the Volgograd Region. The total cost of the project will be 85.5 billion roubles, of which more than 15 billion roubles have already been allocated. EuroChem official Dmitry Strezhnev also said that the mine would be commissioned in two phases. The first phase will begin in 2013, during which time the mines are expected to produce 2.3 million tonnes a year, and after the second phase is implemented in 2016, production will increase to 4.6 million tonnes per year.
Mr Strezhnev showed Mr Putin a model of the mine, as well as a model of the residential complex for miners and their families, which will be built in the town of Kotelnikovo. EuroChem plans to build around 240,000 square metres of housing for 10,000 people, as well as a kindergarten, schools and a hospital with special equipment.
Mr Strezhnev also brought up the 9.5 billion roubles that the federal government promised to the Volgograd Region for community infrastructure but has not distributed. In response, Mr Putin asked: "What is going to be built with this money?" In response, the prime minister was told that the funds would be used to build community infrastructure, and that the company planned to reimburse this money.
Mr Putin also spoke with miners during his visit, who raised a number of social issues, including the lack of infrastructure. In response, Mr Putin said: "We just looked at the development plans for this area... That's all in the plans."
Transcript of the meeting with the miners:
Vladimir Putin: Where are you all from?
Miner: Some of us are from Yakutia and others are from Norilsk. We're a team, so to speak. Out of 300 people who are building the mine, 80 are working with us. Plus we're hiring young people. We hope that these people will be able to accomplish a lot.
Vladimir Putin: Have you been working here for a long time? Are you dressed so smartly because of this visit? Or do you dress like this all the time?
Miner: All the time. We try. Some of us have been working here for three years, some of us for two.
Vladimir Putin: Three years - from the very beginning.
Miner: Yes, starting from the design work. From the very beginning.
Vladimir Putin: What is your view of the project's future?
Miner: The prospects are good, the risks are minimal, and we have good technical training. We've brought in new people, new workers, and we are training young people.
But there are some problems. Social services are good, the pay is good, but it could be more comfortable...
Vladimir Putin: There's nothing here?
Miner: Yes. There's nothing... and transport is...
Vladimir Putin: We just looked at the development plans for this area...
Miner: The miners came here with their wives, relocated here with their families, and their wives still have nowhere to work. We have work - you saw our work. We're glad to have work, and pay and housing will get sorted out somehow. But social services...
Vladimir Putin: I understand. That's all in the plans. What is your average salary?
Miner: Shaftmen get 65,000 to 70,000 roubles. That's a good, decent salary. We need to build a workforce that can achieve great things.
Vladimir Putin: Is there anyone here from Yakutia?
Miner: Yes, there is. Most of us. We built the Mir mine, which you visited last year.
Vladimir Putin: That's a major construction project.
Miner: And now we'll build this project - it'll be just as good, I think.
Vladimir Putin: I wish you every success.
* * *
After his conversation with the miners, Mr Putin visited the town of Kotelnikovo, where a number of facilities have already been built. Mr Putin was shown a new workers' hostel and informed that the town already had a laundry facility and a canteen. An athletic centre is also planned. A special production facility has been set up to make construction materials using technology unique to Russia.
Mr Putin was also shown one of the low-rise residential buildings, and was introduced to a family living there. The residents told the prime minister that they liked the flat, but there is one problem - there is nowhere to send the children, because there is still no kindergarten.
"Maybe they don't want to go to kindergarten?" joked Mr Putin. In reply, he was told that the children generally liked their flat, because it was right next to special playground frequented by neighbourhood children.