Medvedev backs development of bitumen business in Russia, as 'situation with bitumen difficult'
YEKATERINBURG. Oct 16 (Interfax) - Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visited the specialized Road Expo-2019 exhibition in Yekaterinburg on Wednesday.
Medvedev examined Skoda and UAZ police vehicles while accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov, Transport Minister Yevgeny Ditrikh and Mikhail Chernikov, head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' main directorate for traffic safety.
Medvedev also familiarized himself with specialized highway construction equipment.
Gazpromneft Bitumen Materials LLC presented equipment for storage, melting and pouring of bituminous binder.
The equipment includes a rack for storage of cloventainers (cube-shaped medium-duty containers), a bitumen melting unit, two bitumen carriers and an automated loading unit for them, capable of loading 80 road-tankers (2,000 tonnes of bitumen) per day.
Lukoil's bitumen business development program was presented by subsidiary LLK-International LLC. The prime minister examined a climatic map for selection on bitumen brands depending on the climates of Russian regions and familiarized himself with innovations in the sphere of bitumen materials and bituminous concrete created by the oil company's research and development division, after which he continued visiting exhibition stands at the Yekaterinburg Expo Center.
"Go ahead and develop it, yes. The situation with bitumen is difficult," he said.
After visiting the exhibition, Medvedev will conduct a meeting on the progress in implementing the national project on safe highways, which will take place as part of Road Expo 2019.