In 2004-2005 affiliated structures of IFC METROPOL won in a
number of contests and auctions for mineral rights to deposits in
the Republic of Buryatia, announced by the Ministry of Natural
Resources of the Russian Federation and the government of the
Republic of Buryatia. The company became one of the world leaders
in reserves of zinc, lead and beryllium. It holds 47% of zinc (Zn),
24% of lead (Pb) and 80% of beryllium (Be) in the total balance
reserves of Russia.
In order to carry out the mining-metallurgical program in Russia
within the structure of the international mining consortium MBC
Resources (METROPOL Group) the East- Siberian Metals Corporation
was set up in November 2005. In perspective it will become the
largest vertically integrated specialized holding in Russia. The
Corporation holds the mineral rights to the deposits: Ozernoye
(zinc, lead), Kholodninskoye (zinc, lead), Nazarovskoye (gold,
zinc), Yermakovskoye (beryllium, fluorite), Talinskoye (brown
coal).
At the present time, project works are being conducted by the
Corporation, aimed to designing and construction of the up-to-date
mining-metallurgical complexes with own transport and energy
infrastructure. The Corporation is to build three Mining and
Processing complexes (GOK) – Ozerny, Kholodninsky and Yermakovsky –
and smelting plant in the Chita region. The main output to be
produced by the company will be zinc, lead and beryllium
concentrate, as well as metallic zinc, lead and beryllium.
In the framework of realization of the planned program, in 2006,
together with the Swedish company Lundin Mining, the Corporation
set up the first Russian-Swedish joint venture – Ozerny GOK (ore
mining and processing enterprise). 51% of the JV shares belong to
the East-Siberian Metals Corporation and 49% - to Lundin Mining. It
became an important step in the broadening of the Russian-Swedish
cooperation in the mining and processing industry.
The Corporation has a representative office in the city of
Ulan-Ude (the Republic of Buryatia) and Chita (Chita Region).
