Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the Astrakhan Shipbuilding Production Association.

He examined an ice-strengthened derrick built for a Caspian Sea oilfield. LUKoil CEO Vagit Alekperov told Mr Putin that four major Caspian oilfields, soon to be opened, required at least one new derrick a year. When the Prime Minister asked where metal used for derrick construction came from, Mr Alekperov said it was from Severstal, the Magnitogorsk Steel Works, and other Russian companies.

Mr Putin also talked to factory workers.