OREANDA-NEWS. August 07, 2013. Local community protests against the construction of Kronospan particleboard plant in the suburb of Ufa (Bashkortostan region, Russia). The activists organized a campsite next to the construction site.

The initiative group has demanded the authorities to move the plant away from locality, as its activities may have a negative impact on human health.

The protesters are supported by the local people who bring everything they need: food, bedding, firewood and clothing, local press reported.

The head of the initiative group reported that the activists appealed to the authorities to meet and discuss the situation. However, the residents did not receive a response. In turn, the Bashkortostan government has appointed a public hearing regarding the construction of the plant on 10th September.

Kronospan is investing Euro 195 million in the Bashkortostan plant, which will be able to produce up to 500,000 cubic metres of particleboard a year. All required infrastructure for the plant will be provided by the Bashkortostan government.

The EBRD will be the lender of Euro 90 million for this project, half of which has been syndicated to Raiffeisen Bank International AG under an A/B loan structure. It will be the first foreign direct investment in the forestry sector in Russia’s Bashkortostan Republic.