Business in Brief
- By Unknown
- Feb. 15 2008 00:00
Sibir Unit Given Deadline
Sibir Energy said Thursday that it was given 10 months by the country's environmental watchdog agency to fix environmental and licensing infractions at its Magma oil-production unit.
Magma, accused by the agency of violations on Feb. 11, "will complete the remedial action" in time, London-listed oil explorer Sibir said in a statement.
Magma was also issued "administrative fines" of 70,000 rubles ($2,800), Sibir said in the statement. (Bloomberg)
Norilsk Palladium Estimate
Norilsk Nickel, the world's biggest producer of palladium, said Thursday that it had increased its output forecast for the precious metal this year.
Palladium production will probably reach 3.02 million to 3.07 million ounces, or 94 to 96 tons, the company said Thursday. (Bloomberg)
Bank to Invest in Sakhalin
SEOUL, South Korea -- Woori Bank, a unit of South Korea's third-largest financial services company by market value, plans to invest in the construction of roads, buildings and resources projects on Sakhalin island.
Woori signed a preliminary agreement with the Sakhalin provincial government Thursday that named it an investor and financial adviser, the lender said. (Bloomberg)
Ust-Luga Port May Sell 20%
ST. PETERSBURG -- The country's Baltic port of Ust-Luga may sell shares representing as much as 20 percent of the company in two to three years, chairman Valery Izrailit said Thursday, RBC daily reported.
Ust-Luga expects to become the country's biggest port, increasing cargo turnover more than fivefold to 36 million tons per year by the time it holds the share sale, the paper said. (Bloomberg)
Vodka Maker Plans IPO
Alkogolniye Zavody Gross, maker of Slavyanskaya and Russian Diamond vodka, plans an initial public offering, possibly by late next year, president and co-owner Alexander Bezuglov said, Kommersant reported Thursday.
The company will merge its distilleries into one entity and may sell shares at the end of 2009 or the beginning of 2010, the newspaper said. (Bloomberg)
EU Trade Chief Optimistic
BRUSSELS -- European Union Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said Thursday that there had been "good progress" in talks aimed at Russian membership in the World Trade Organization.
"We have made good progress in recent weeks in resolving outstanding problems," Mandelson said in a statement. "With political will on both sides, I believe that negotiations can be completed quickly." (Bloomberg)
VTB Buys Sawmill Stake
VTB Group, the country's second-biggest bank, bought a stake in Ruukki Group Oyj to help the Finnish company build a sawmill and cellulose plant in the Kostroma region, Vedomosti reported Thursday.
VTB bought 10 percent of Ruukki for 76.9 million euros ($112 million) from Procomex SA, the news paper said, citing VTB and Ruukki executives. (Bloomberg)
For the Record




