Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Lisin discuss the future of UCL Holding
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at a working meeting with Vladimir Lisin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK), have discussed the development of the company’s transport, the NLMK press release said.
Vladimir Lisin as a major shareholder of one of the largest Russian transport companies - UCL Holding, spoke about the NLMK plans. The Holding companies continue to implement an ambitious development program. As of now, there have been five marine cargo terminals built in the program framework. The priorities for the coming years are further increase of ports’ capacities, shipbuilding and expansion of rail cars fleet..
The NLMK Group produces in Russia 10.6 million tons of steel and 6.2 million tons of metal-roll of various kinds. The Group includes 40 companies, which employ 58,700 people - in the regions of Lipetsk (34,000), Sverdlovsk (8,700 people), Belgorod (6,000), Altai Territory (4,000 people) and in other Russia’s regions. Over the past three years, the Group has spent 109 billion rubles in modernization and new construction, and 57 billion rubles to be invested this year. Since 1999, the total amount of the Group’s investments has made up 224 billion rubles. The funds ensured sustainable production growth and stable financial performance of the Group. In 2012, NLMK projects to boost steel production capacity by 40%, to 17 million tons.
Universal Cargo Logistics Holding (UCL Holding) is an international transportation holding company, integrating the Group of companies of the Sea Port of St. Petersburg and Universal Transshipment Complex, Tuapse and Taganrog ports, Volga, North-Western and Western Shipping Companies, as well as a number of shipyards, shipping and logistics companies. Over 17,700 employees work for the Holding enterprises in Russia. The employees’ wage is substantially higher than the average and regional wage in the industry.
Each year, the Holding’s companies transship more than 30 million tons of cargo in four Russian sea ports, over 50 million tons of freight are transported by rail, 15 million tons of cargo and 1,000,000 passengers are carried by 520 trucks and 69 passenger ships.
The Holding's companies are currently running a large-scale development program for the period from 2008 to 2015. As of now, five cargo terminals have been launched at the ports of St. Petersburg, Ust-Luga and Tuapse, and two more are under construction. The Holding’s shipbuilding portfolio includes over 60 sea and river going vessels to be constructed at the shipyards. Six ships have been delivered to the customers, construction of another 10 vessels is ongoing. The Holding’s rail cars fleet has increased from 4,000 units in 2008 to 20,000 in 2010, to be expandable to 50,000 cars.