Uranium Capital of Russia Celebrated Its 50th Anniversary and Miner’s Day as Its Most Important Holiday

The ceremonial meeting in the Dauria Community Center began with a video congratulation from the top management of ARMZ Uranium Holding Co. (Mining Division of ROSATOM State Atomic Energy Corporation) who were reciting Svetlana Melnikova’s heartfelt and warm poetry of There, underground.... about uranium miners «whose work is not for everyone...». The poem won the Atomic Energy Helps Us Live and Build poetry contest.

The attendees were also congratulated by Bair Zhamsuyev, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, who reminded of the great efforts to arrange funds for the construction of Mine No. 6 (Argunskoye and Zherlovoye fields) and read out a greeting message from Valentina Matviyenko, Chairwoman of the Federation Council, which, in particular, stated as follows: «Krasnokamensk is a widely acknowledged flagship of the Russian uranium mining industry. It is a home to talented and welcoming people who endeavor their best efforts for the prosperity of the local community, while making a significant contribution to the approaching to nationwide issues.»

Vladimir Verkhovtsev, Director General of ARMZ Uranium Holding Co., thanked the older and honorable workers of Priargunsky Industrial Mining and Chemical Union, PJSC (E.P. Slavsky PIMCU, PJSC), being the city’s backbone enterprise, and wished that the PIMCU team would forge ahead. «Every day, when extracting uranium as raw material for the nuclear industry, you are accustomed to treat your uphill work as a routine, although it is actually a great endeavor, and you deserve a lot of respect for the strains and occasional hazards of extracting the strategic material», he said. The highest mark of recognition and appreciation for work efforts were awards. Indeed, Nikolay Rogachev, a senior overseer at Mine No. 8, was awarded a Second-Class Medal of the Order «For Merit to the Fatherland», while Alexandr Shestakov, head of the stowing operations at Mine No. 1, Vladimir Rukopashev and Roman Okladnikov as excavator operators of Urtuiskoye Open Cast Mining Office were awarded Miner’s Glory medal badges.

Ivan Kiselev, Director General of E.P. Slavsky PIMCU, PJSC, pointed out that: «Today, each and every assignment is fulfilled by PIMCU working community in an effective manner like it has been the case over the course of 51 years of our existence. We maintain the highest standards of professional practices and keep the security of the uranium mining industry in Russia by doing our tremendous job.» A great musical tribute for those who were present at the ceremony were performances by Karl Mörling, the winner of international piano competitions, the Trans-Baikal Cossack song and dance ensemble, the Chita-based Fire Show, and other teams. On Saturday morning, all residents of Krasnokamensk could watch and participate in the long-history ceremonial procession of employees and officials from PIMCU, city companies, enterprises, and municipal agencies, including cutting-edge machinery and equipment led by an ARAMINE L140B all-wheel drive narrow vein loader launched into production by the PIMCU engineering and repair plant together with the French ARAMINE. Full Cavaliers of the Order of the Miner’s Glory Medal who are the mining pride and elite and who are the PIMCU workers of great renown and reputation, marched in the PIMCU festive column like a single file formation, with students of the paramilitary Zarnitsa club and cadet classes, which had been opened at School No. 1 with the support from the city’s cornerstone enterprise, walking next to the PIMCU teams. The PIMCU columns were followed by people from municipal agencies that were looking especially festive and exciting in the anniversary year, while the MSU-50 team performed an incredible excavator ballet show.

The festive events were attended by Alexander Osipov, Acting Governor of the Trans-Baikal Territory, who was ceremonially presented with a red folder containing some local community improvement proposals from residents. «The regional government will be very attentive to all the proposals Krasnokamensk residents have filed and we will do our best to make the most of them, prioritize and find funding so that they could be put into practice,» said the Trans-Baikal Territory Governor.