Speech by Strzhalkovsky V.I., General Director of MMC Norilsk Nickel at the Metallurgist’s Day Celebration (Norilsk, Mayakovsky Theatre, July 17, 2009)

Good evening, dear colleagues, metallurgists and Norilsk residents!

With all my heart I’d like to congratulate you on your professional holiday, the Metallurgist’s Day, the Company’s Day and the City’s Day.

Norilsk residents are remarkable, courageous and hard-working people and the Company takes pride in them. The Company’s employees are of principle importance for us. I also congratulate your family members and relatives, close friends and acquaintances you spend your time with outside your work place.

Today is a special day. It seems that one always needs to be able to talk about work, and on such a holiday as well. Meeting the production targets is a priority for the Company. We realize that Norilsk ore is petering out, and these are the directors of the Polar Division, plants and mines who shall show their expertize and find the best engineering solutions. 

Today we’ve made a number of important changes in the structure of the Polar Division’s management aimed at the optimisation of the Company’s production unit operation, at increasing the transparency of operation of all its units. A new position of the First Deputy Director of the Polar Division -  Chief Engineer was introduced. The Director of  the Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant  Selyandin Sergey Veniaminovich was appointed to this position. I congratulate him on this appointment.

A number of plants and mines’s directors were appointed Deputy Directors of the Polar Division and Deputies to the Chief Engineer. I hope that their expertize, potential and persistance will contribute to further development of the Company.

Dear colleagues! There is no doubt that on a Metallurgist’s day we need to say about the Company’s social responsibility. On this occasion we found a possibility to pay a holiday bonus to Norilsk residents. It is to note, that these weren’t the funds budgeted for the Polar Division, but the funds emerging due to the reduction of the Head Office payroll. Everyone understands the hardships you have to face here at the forefront, therefore, your Moscow colleagues decided to make you a consolidated present.

Certainly, money is good, but social programs are also important. A few months ago, understanding how important air transport service is for Norilsk residents we made a decision to establish our own air company.  And within a short term of seven months that is record-breaking for our country this company was established. Now you have an opportunity to fly to Moscow and Krasnoyarsk at a price we have promised. At the moment we are considering the issue of increasing the frequency of flights. By the next season additional flights in the southern direction,  to Saint-Petersburg and other cities important for Norilsk residents will be arranged.

A large-scale program aimed at improving the quality of services  in Zapolyarie Health Resort was carried out. Many of you have already been there and seen considerable changes.

Zapolyarie is going to be further improved. We will make our health resort one of the best in Russia, affordable and enjoyable for Norilsk residents.

We also realize how important the rest of your children is. This is one of the things everyone is concerned about. Camps for children are changed almost every year, but in many ways they leave much to be desired. The Company management made a decision to construct our own recreation camp  for children. It will be located on the shore of the Black Sea, the place has already been found. So, in the near future, in about two years you will be able to send your children to a safe, comfortable and beautiful place.

Dear friends, once again I congratulate you on this holiday. I wish success, health and happiness to all of you.