14 Jul 2009 17:01

Putin to meet metals industry representatives in Magnitogorsk July 24 - Stepashin

CHELYABINSK. July 14 (Interfax) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will hold a meeting with representatives of the metals industry in Magnitogorsk on July 24, the chairman of the Audit Chamber, Sergei Stepashin, said after a meeting with the heads of metals enterprises in Chelyabinsk region.

The meeting will feature a discussion of the effectiveness of state support measures and the outlook for growth of the Russian metals sector.

It is dedicated to the launch of Mill-5000 at Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK) .

The Magnitogorsk meeting comes precisely one year after a similar meeting on the metals sector held in Norilsk Nickel. That meeting is remembered for Putin's harsh criticism of the coal pricing policy of the Mechel coal and steel group, which immediately sent the company's market capitalization into a tailspin.

Preparations for the Magnitogorsk meeting came at a session with Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin last week. Those present included representatives from the Economic Development Ministry, Federal Antimonopoly Service, the Federal Tax Service, Gazprom , Severstal , MMK, Novolipetsk Iron & Steel Company (NLMK), Transneft , Rosneft and Mechel.

RTS$#&: CHMF, GAZP, MAGN, MTLR, NLMK, ROSN, TRNF