Government meeting

Agenda: Writing off part of the regions' budgetary loan debts; budgetary allocations for modernising power distribution grids in the new regions; technological support for the mining of solid minerals.

Mikhail Mishustin's opening remarks:

Good afternoon, colleagues.

Before we move to the meeting agenda, I would like to inform you about a decision taken.

The Government continues to reinforce the finances of the regions that are actively implementing infrastructure projects and creating attractive conditions for investors. Two thirds of these regions' budgetary loan debts will be written off.

Today, we will help another 16 regions, reducing their debts by a total of 31 billion roubles. This decision will concern the republics of Buryatia, Kalmykia, Crimea, North Ossetia - Alania and Khakassia, the Krasnoyarsk Territory, and the Volgograd, Ivanovo, Irkutsk, Kurgan, Novgorod, Orel, Rostov, Smolensk, Tambov and Tver regions.

They have invested a substantial part of their resources in implementing city master plans, improving housing and utility services, and modernising public transport. It is essential that they have also invested in the recapitalisation of regional industrial development funds and several other programmes. Writing off part of their debts will allow them to release substantial resources, financing the further improvement of the regions' economic operating conditions and enhancing people's well-being.

And now, let's move to our agenda.

We are actively implementing the socioeconomic development programme in the new Russian entities - the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions - in order to fulfil the President's task of integrating them into our common space. This includes the construction and reconstruction of houses, schools, kindergartens, hospitals and outpatient clinics, as well as any other essential infrastructure such as roads, railway lines and energy facilities.

Today, we will discuss the allocation of an additional 3.5 billion roubles for financing the reconstruction of power lines for a dozen facilities and houses where thousands of people live. These funds will also be used to finance the acquisition of special construction and repair equipment, tools and components.

Colleagues, I would like you to ensure that funds are transferred to the recipients as soon as possible so that the planned projects are completed before the end of the year.

The next item on our agenda concerns technological support for the mining of solid minerals, including coal, iron ores, gravel and other essential raw materials that constitute the basis of modern economy and for which domestic companies are among top global producers.

Industrial safety is the main concern in the development of certain deposits, especially when this involves industrial hazards or operation in mines and earthquake-prone areas. Safety requirements aimed at preventing disasters are regularly improved with due regard for scientific conclusions and modern production methods.

Today, we will discuss amendments to the legislation that will stipulate the systematic monitoring of the geological situation during mineral resources development. We must promptly receive reliable information about subterranean streams or the presence of methane in formations. This will allow us to choose the most effective technological solutions to reduce associated risks.

We hope that these measures will help reduce the number of accidents at mining enterprises and, more importantly, save lives.