United Metallurgical Company assists the victims of the fires in Vyksa area

Severe forest fires have spread since the end of July in Vyksa area of Nizhny Novgorod region. According to the official figures, 19 people were killed and more than 500 houses burned in 10 localities of the area affected by the fires.

Starting on the very first day of the disaster, UMC has organized a large-scale and comprehensive assistance to people in distress. A fire-fighting unit has been formed at Vyksa Steel Works. Every day about 500 employees of Vyksa Steel Works take part in the fire-fighting. The Company has allocated all its available machines and equipment for extinguishing the fires. Not only the production facilities are currently under protection, but also the local settlements in Vyksa area, pioneer camps, recreation centers and other social facilities.

According to Anatoly Sedykh, Chairman of the Board of Directors, despite the fact that the company incurs considerable economic losses, the UMC management decided to allocate 300 million roubles to support the victims of the fires in Vyksa area, regardless of whether they are working for the Company or not.

The Company has accommodated more than 200 people in the sanatorium “Metallurg” and hotel “Volna”, has provided them with meals. An evacuation committee was created at Vyksa Steel Works to which all the VSW employees can apply for assistance. As of August 1, 2010, the Committee has taken applications from 487 employees and their families.

According to Vladimir Kochetkov, Vice-President of the UMC and Executive Director of VSW, the plant continues to operate even under these critical conditions. But due to the smoke the production process has to be stopped from time to time. ‘The environmental situation of the region remains uncertain’, says Vladimir Kochetkov, ‘however, realizing strategic importance for Russia and Europe of the projects (particularly Nord Stream) where VSW is one of major pipe suppliers, UMC is making every effort to fulfill its obligations to the Company’s partners, despite the force-majeure in Nizhny Novgorod region.’