The first starting complex of the coal terminal was opened in Ust-Luga Commercial Seaport (Leningradskaya Oblast). Russia's President Vladimir Putin failed to take part in the ceremony of opening due to poor weather conditions. Deputy Presidential Plenipotentiary in the North-West Region Lubov Sovershaeva, a member of the Ust-Luga's Board Alfred Kokh, Chairman of the Budget-Financial Committee of the St. Petersburg Administration Vadim Tulpanov visited the opening.

At the same day the first ship loaded with coal will leave seaport berths.

In 2002 the starting complex of the coal terminal is to load 1 mln tons of coal for export. At the same time a cargo handling technology will be developed and specialized processing equipment will be mounted. Commissioning of the first-stage equipment of 4 mln tons capacity is scheduled to take place in 2002, and by the end of 2003 the terminal will reach its full design capacity - 8 mln tons of coal per year.

The RD Ministry of Transport estimated the Ust-Luga port to accept up to 50 % of cargo exported through the North-West region of Russia.

The total turnover of the port is supposed to be 35 mln.

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