OREANDA-NEWS. On March 23th, the Awareness Day was held at JSC VNIPIpromtekhnologii (a part of the control loop of JSC Atomredmetzoloto/ARMZ Uranium Holding).

The audience was addressed by director general of ARMZ Uranium Holding Co. Vladimir Verkhovtsev.

In his speech, Vladimir Nikolaevich told about the new status of the Institute, which positions the company as an engineering center of the mining arm of Rosatom. One of the pilot engineering projects was the introduction of the new final product drying facility for yellowcake at JSC Dalur. The turnkey project involved all implementation stages, from preliminary design to equipment installation and commissioning.

"We have a number of important upcoming projects in this area, at PJSC PIMCU, at the facilities located on Novaya Zemlya archipelago, as well as within the framework of international cooperation" - noted Vladimir Verkhovtsev. "At the same time we have to maintain traditional competences of the institute related to design of uranium mining facilities and radioactive waste management."

Pressing issues related to ongoing staff optimization processes at the enterprise were also covered. General director of the Holding noted that the entire uranium industry is now experiencing tough times. "The primary goal facing both management company and all subsidiaries is to break even, including by reducing costs" - said Verkhovtsev. He also noted that further development of ARMZ is associated with partial diversification of the business. Last year, the foundation was laid for cooperation with Chinese partners. ARMZ implements two projects which are unique for Zabaykalsky Krai - construction of cement and coal-diesel plants, where VNIPIpromtekhnologii is directly engaged as a general designer. Construction of the mining plant at Pavlovskoye deposit opens broad prospects for JSC Atomredmezoloto. Production is scheduled to start in 2019.

Vladimir Verkhovtsev urged all employees "to improve operating efficiency." He noted that despite the existing achievements, we must constantly strive to improve competitiveness. Access to foreign markets will increase revenues of both the Institute and the Holding as a whole. "

Questions from the audience were also responded by first deputy general director, executive director of JSC Atomredmetzoloto Victor Svyatetsky and general director of JSC VNIPIpromtekhnologii Alexey Starodumov.
Union representative of the Institute Svetlana Karapetyan stated that conditions of the collective agreement were observed, and at the same time stressed the need for such events, where management answers questions of employees, updates on industry situation and development plans.

Awareness Day was held as a part of efforts to improve involvement of employees of JSC VNIPIpromtekhnologii. The meeting was attended by over 300 people - engineers, designers, managers and employees of various business units. In summary, Vladimir Verkhovtsev together with the management of the company expressed his willingness to participate in live and informal dialogue with employees of the institute.