On May 21, the Russian Minister of Industry and Energy Victor Khristenko held a meeting with the leading Russian steelmakers to discuss strategies for the development of the Russian metallurgical industry for the period up to 2015.
Participants at the meeting included the heads of Russia's main metallurgical companies, such as Mechel, Tube Metallurgical Company (TMK), United Metallurgical Company (OMK), Severstal, Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK), Novolipetsk Steel Works (NLMK), Metalloinvest Holding and EvrazHolding.
The participants discussed the domestic and international price situation and the issue of raw materials supply for metallurgical mills.
In addition, another topic of discussion was the implementation of investment projects directed at satisfying the Russian market's demand for high-value added products, at improving production techniques and at increasing the quality of flat steel, particularly for pipe production and the automobile industry.
As a result of the meeting, the mills decided to create a working group which will forward proposals for the improvement of state industrial policy in the sphere of metallurgy.