NLMK-DV WILL TAKE PART IN SHANGHAI EXHIBITION

The IV International Electric Steel Exhibition will take place in Shanghai on 28-30 April.

Leading metallurgical companies of Japan, South Korea, China, Russia and other countries will demonstrate their achievements. For several consecutive years, Russia was represented by the Novolipetsky iron mill (NLMK in Russian), its own company running a full cycle of electric grade steel production. The Russian delegation will be led by Pavel Patsvald, NLMK's branch director in Far East. - Yevgeny ITAROV.

FISHING SEINER LAUNCHED AT KAMCHATKA YARD

A grand ceremony of launching a new-built fishing vessel, first in many years, was held in Petropavlovsk-Kamchataky.

The "Skedia" small seiner of MRS type has become the first ship completed by AO Petropavlovsk Shipyard. It is capable of catching up to 12 miles of fish at a distance of up to 50 miles from land. The ceremony was attended by Kamchatka governor Mikhail Mashkovtsev, local fishing company managers and business people.

AO Petropavlovsk Shipyard's board member Yury Grin noted that the shipbuilding industry has come back to life on the peninsula thanks to tax breaks and other privileges granted by the regional administration. This policy makes it possible for Kamchatka fishermen to renovate their fleets at minimum costs. Thus, Fort Vid company has paid $300,000 for the Skedia.

Another small-size seiner is currently under construction at the yard and will soon join Kamchatka's inshore fishery fleets, says spokesman for the regional administration. - Yevgeny ITAROV.

MOTOR ROAD UPGRADE PROGRAMME FOR FAR EAST TO BE DISCUSSED IN KHABAROVSK

Anatoly Nasonov, director of the Federal Road Agency of the Transport and Communication Ministry, arrives in Khabarovsk on 24 April at the invitation of presidential envoy in Far East Konstantin Pulikovsky.

He will hold a meeting on development of transport infrastructures in the Far East Federal District, which will discuss a draft programme for modernization and development of a motor road net in the Far Eastern district through the year 2025. The programme is part of the nationwide programme "Roads of Russia," which will be considered by the cabinet on 6 May.

Konstantin Pulikovsky believes that "Far Easterners should highlight the necessity of priority budgeting for motor road construction," "because it is impossible to improve the region's social and economic situation without a developed net of roads linking together the Far East's regions."

Although through traffic has been opened on the highway Chita - Khabarovsk, asphalt paving will be completed only by 2008. "Along with the south Far East, we should connect with Russia's central regions northern areas by 2005 as well - Magadan, Anadyr, Yakutsk. Nearest plans include reconstruction of Khabarovsk - Vladivostok highway, construction of roads Khabarovsk - Nakhodka, Selekhino - Nikolayevsk-on-Amur, Lidoga - Vanino, Bolshoi Never - Yakutsk, Yakutsk - Magadan, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - Palana, Yakutsk - Ayan - Okhotsk - Khabarovsk, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - Okha, Magadan - Bilibino - Anadyr, construction of detour roads in Birobidzhan and Ussuriisk," Konstantin Pulikovsky declared. - Yury ROGOV.

AMUR OBLAST LOST 20 MILLION RUBLES DUE TO FOOT AND MOUTH OUTBREAK

Activities to prevent spreading of foot and mouth disease are underway in Amur Oblast.

The planned slaughter of 886 head of cattle is coming to an end, a burial pit was excavated, manure and cow shed were burnt in the farm where sick animals had been detected.

Losses are preliminarily estimated at about 20 million rubles. A pedigree breeding stock was affected, with one cow valued at some 30,000 rubles.

The Soya Research Institute, owner of the affected farm in Sadovoye village, plans to reinstate it in a year. It will take several years to raise another stock. Agricultural officials say that it will be very hard for the farm to start from scratch without external support. Perhaps, several tens of breeding cows will have to be purchased from breeding farms in Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk. - Yulia PROKHOROVA.

"OSTROV SAKHALIN" WILL DEPART ON MAIDEN VOYAGE SOON

A launching ceremony was held for the tanker Ostrov Sakhalin, 108,000 dwt, built for OAO Primorsk Shipping Company (Prisco) at the Brodosplit shipbuilding yard in Croatia.

The ceremony was attended by Prisco managers led by director general Alexander Kirilichev, European bankers who lent money for the project, representatives of foreign insurance and investment companies, officials from the administration of Sakhalin Oblast.

Same as the flagship of Prisco's fleets the "Primorye" tanker, the new ship has been built under the most advanced design with a double hull and assigned 1C Ice Class rating. Spokesman for Prisco informs, that the Ostrov Sakhalin will soon depart on its maiden voyage.

The Croatian yard is completing construction of a second Aframax, the Governor Farkhutdinov, which will join Prisco's fleet in a few months.

In addition, Prisco has placed with Hyundai Heavy Industries yard in South Korea orders for 5 more large-tonnage tankers - three Aframaxes of 100,000 dwt each and two suezmaxes of 166,000 dwt each. - Yevgeny ITAROV.