JAPANESE SHIPOWNER FINED IN PRIMORYE

A fine of 8,244,990 rubles was imposed on the owner of the Japanese fishing schooner "Genei Maru 5" detained on 27 June in Tatar Strait.

The ship failed to comply with transportation rules applicable in the Russian exclusive economic zone. Its holds contained more than 101 ton of fresh frozen fish, said spokesman for the Pacific Border Guard Command. - Yury ROGOV.

CAR RALLY LISBON - VLADIVOSTOK FINISHED

The rally was finished in the evening of 12 July.

As spokesman for the Russian Transport Ministry said, the rally was held under the theme "Automobile transport brings progress from the Atlantic to the Pacific." The event was organized by the Russian Transport Ministry and the Association of International Automobile Carriers with support by the International Union of Motor Transport. Its goal was to introduce possibilities of East - West transport corridors to the political and business community.

The rally started on 24 May in Lisbon. Its participants were Russian and foreign companies and NGO representatives. - Yevgeny ITAROV.

NEW MINE OPENED ON KOLYMA

Nyavlenga Mine with an enriching factory were opened in 200 km from Magadan.

Its annual capacity is 500 kg of gold and 10 tons of silver. The deposit is not very large, but its resources will be sufficient to run the mine and yield tax payments during 5-7 years and give jobs to 180 workers. Ore will be produced in the underground mine, with 800 metres of a 14-square-metre preparatory heading already completed.

The mine was started two years ago. Other completed facilities are barracks, canteen, clinic, post office, administrative building and social premises. The opening ceremony was attended by presidential envoy in Far East Konstantin Pulikovsky. - Yevgeny ITAROV.

SPASSKCEMENT BUILDS UP OUTPUT

VostokCement holding maintained cement production in the first half of this year on same level as a year before (406,300 and 406,100 tons respectively) but reduced clinker output by 15% (325,600 tons).

Its member company OAO SpasskCement increased cement production by 32% (up to 301,000 tons) and clinker production by 6.2% (up to 240,000 tons).

Output at OAO Teploozersky Cement Plant (Jewish Autonomus Oblast) went down - by 41% in cement (down to 105,300 tons) and by 45% in clinker (down to 85,600 tons).

SpasskCement and Teploozersky's plans for 2004 are to raise cement output by 9% (up to 1,044,000 tons) and reduce clinker production by 12% (down to 854,000 tons).

"ZR" FILE: OOO VostokCement is part of the concern Park Group and is a management company for OAO SpasskCement, OAO Teploozersky Cement Plant and OAO Vladivostok Crushed Stone Plant. - Olga DOBROLYUBOVA.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS REQUIRE MORE INFORMATION ON PIPELINE

Public hearings on the oil pipeline Taishet - Perevoznaya Cove were held in Primorsky Krai administration. Attending parties were OAO Transneft, OAO Giprotruboprovod, environmental and nongovernmental organizations.

Transneft and Giprotruboprovod's representatives told about progress in project activities. New developments to date include an evaluation of the resource potential in West and East Siberia, analysis of the oil market in Asia Pacific nation, cost calculation for construction. Two scenarios have been developed: a step-by-step alternative with use of railway transport and full-scale construction of an oil pipeline to Perevoznaya Cove.

"ZR" FILE: The pipeline will have a total length of 4,188 km and diameter of 1,220 mm. It will incorporate 44 pump stations and 14 tank farms. The project will need a construction work force of 29,545, of which 5,300 will be employed in Primorye. Construction schedule and cost for the first and second alternatives are, respectively, 36 months and $14.4 billion, 72 months and $14.9 billion.

The majority of environmentalists objected to the terminus location in Perevoznaya Cove. There are two wildlife preserves in that area - one marine and one on land (Kedrovaya Pad). Another consideration is that, due to specific of local currents, possible oil spills cannot be contained in the cove and will be spread all over the coast, including islands, the only intact recreation area.

The hearings resulted in a protocol, in which environmentalists required more full information about pipeline's environmental effects and data about alternative locations for the terminus. Many pointed out at Nakhodka as a suitable alternative.

In accordance with law, Transneft must include a protocol of public hearings in its submission for the governmental environmental expert review. - Irina DROBYSHEVA.