OREANDA-NEWS. September 21, 2010. UC RUSAL Plc (SEHK: 486, EuroNext: RUSAL/RUAL), the world’s largest aluminium producer, announces the start of a new corporate social programme ‘The Territory of RUSAL’. It is directed at the development of social infrastructure and the support of socially effective initiatives in the regions of company’s presence. The program encompasses years 2010-2011. The budget for the first stage of the programme is RUR 170 mln.

‘The Territory of RUSAL’ is based on the principles of private-public partnership, utilizes the vast experience of the social responsibility programs conducted by the company and has extensive innovative component – the best projects in social infrastructure development selected during tenders are to be co-financed by UC RUSAL and regional governments of Russian Federation. During 2010-2011 the programme is to be realized in Khakas Region, Krasnoyarsk region, Irkutskaya and Sverdlovskaya regions of Russia and Nikolayevskaya region in Ukraine. The programme welcomes the participation from state and municipal bodies and institutions as well as NGO’s.

 The ‘Territory of RUSAL’ programme consists of three components:

· The development of social infrastructure: the construction, reconstruction and equipment of education, sport and culture facilities, the extension of their social role, applications and the quality of social services;

· The support and development of civil initiatives – scholarship, educational and partnership programs. The support of youth initiative projects in the field of professional application, the realization of volunteer actions and events. The development of youths’ scientific and technical potential in the field of computer technologies, robotics and modeling;

· ‘Computers for schoolchildren’ – the implementation of modern information technologies to the learning process of elementary school.

‘All UC RUSAL social programs are conducted on the tender basis approach that is transparent and effective mechanism’, says RUSAL Deputy CEO Vera Kurochkina. ‘Such approach allows maximizing the result for company’s social investments that are aimed at regional development and support of residents’ initiatives. The organization of nonschool activities, healthy lifestyle, professional and personal development of youth, the scientific and technological creative process and computer technologies, volunteer projects are the key areas of focus for UC RUSAL new social programme. During 2004-2009 the company has supported 893 social projects with more than 1,5 million participants’, states Vera Kurochkina.

‘The Territory of RUSAL’ program will be presented during the series of seminars throughout the regions during September-October period where the potential participants will be briefed on the application rules. The program is administered and supported by UC RUCAL’s ‘Center for Social Programmes’.