Mr Pecheny briefed the President on the socioeconomic situation in the region and discussed, in particular, the development prospects for gold mining industry and implementation of the programme to modernise the region’s ambulance fleet.
The Governor said that 24.5 tonnes of gold were mined in the region last year, and the forecast target for this year is 27 tonnes. The growth was primarily due to the launch of a large new enterprise at the Pavlik gold field at the end of last year. Furthermore, work is near completion on what will be Russia’s biggest mining and enrichment facility, which will start operation next year. These projects mean that the region will carry out more mining and processing of gold ore rather than gravel gold, and this will ultimately give a substantial boost to production. The region set a record for silver mining last year, with more than 1,000 tonnes. New fields will be developed in this sector too.
Mr Pecheny briefed the President on the state of progress in implementing his instruction to modernise the ambulance fleet. This year, the region has purchased 10 ambulances specially adapted for northern conditions, using regional budget funds, an emergency care module installed on board an Emergency Ministry helicopter, which can be used in the Okhotsk Sea area, and all-terrain vehicles.
Mr Pecheny said that the region, together with truck manufacturer KAMAZ, have developed project requirements for producing a KAMAZ-based ambulance vehicle with high cross-country ability and fitted out with the necessary additional equipment. The Governor asked the President to instruct the Healthcare Ministry and the Industry and Trade Ministry to examine possibilities for starting series production of this ambulance once the model has gone through tests in the Magadan Region.