The meeting was attended by Rostov Region Governor Vasily Golubev, Irkutsk Region Governor Igor Kobzev, Acting Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin, Chair of the State Duma Committee on Energy Pavel Zavalny, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy Yury Fedorov, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Federal Structure, Regional Policy, Local Government and Northern Affairs Dmitry Kuzmin, Accounts Chamber Auditor Alexei Kaulbars, heads of coal-mining settlements and towns, representatives of federal and regional executive bodies and specialised organisation.
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The participants discussed issues of relocating people from territories where mineral deposits have been depleted by coal enterprises, the implementation of overhaul projects, construction and reconstruction of social facilities in coal-mining settlements, and the implementation of a programme to facilitate local development and employment in coal-mining settlements and towns.
In his opening remarks, Igor Levitin noted that the programme for relocating people from residential buildings in territories where coal deposits have been depleted and those near defunct coal mines had been launched in 1994. Over 44,000 miners’ families received new housing under this programme. At the same time, a number of problems with relocation persist, and the President has instructed the relevant officials to relocate the residents of buildings in territories where coal deposits have been depleted and those near defunct coal (shale) mines until 2024.
Sergei Tsivilev and Alexander Galushka emphasised the importance of fully complying with state decisions on relocating residents of rundown and dilapidated housing in coal-mining settlements and towns, implementing overhaul projects, and reconstructing facilities affected by operations at former state-owned mines.
A representative of the Russian Ministry of Energy reported on the progress of the federal project, the Implementation of Local Development Programmes and Employment Protection for Coal-Mining Settlements and Towns (the Restructuring of the Coal Industry). Representatives of coal-mining settlements and towns informed the meeting participants about local issues arising during the implementation of this project.
Vasily Golubev cited the Rostov Region as an example and noted difficulties arising during the allocation of federal funding for overhaul projects, reconstruction and the construction of social facilities in coal-mining settlements.
The meeting participants discussed reports and made suggestions on the issues under discussion; these proposals will be included in the meeting’s protocol and reported to the President.