The Group is committed to operating in a manner that provides tangible and sustainable benefits to our host communities.  This includes supporting educational programmes, financial investment and contributions, awareness raising and maintaining an ongoing dialogue with host communities and the local authorities. 

Pokrovskiy Rudnik has a well-established education programme and currently has 107 employees enrolled on education courses and operates a scholarship programme for students.  In order to train future workers and to maintain a pool of skilled workers, the Group works closesly with local universities.  To that end the Blagoveschensk Pedagogical University has established a new Chemistry Department to meet demand from the Group for scientifically-trained graduates.  Lecturers for the new department are provided from the Group's staff.  The Group is also planning to establish a local mining engineering college to produce trained mining engineers for the Group. 

The Group also works with local schools, organising field trips, supporting research and development projects and providing career development sessions to promote awareness of the mining industry within the host community. 

The Group plays a major role in the economy of the Amur Region, and is the third largest tax payer, having contributed a total of US$13.8m in 2006.  We endeavour to employ local people where possible, and the average salary at Pokrovskiy Rudnik, of US$580 for a 15-day shift, is considerably higher than the average for the industrial sector within the Amur Region, being US$425. 

The Group maintains an extensive charitable funding and sponsorship programme in the Amur Region that suppports communities and infrastructure in several local districts.  The Group makes contributions to public health services, educational institutions and day centres and sponsors a variety of sporting, cultural and charitable events. 

In Tygda for example, the Group has contributed to the construction and running of local schools as well as the town's fire station, and in Magdagachi, the Group contributes to a number of schools and has recently funded the construction of a church.  The Group's senior management maintains an active dialogue with local authorities and trade unions and Pokrovskiy Rudnik has signed agreements with all local communities for mutual cooperation and support. 

In 2006 the Group invested US$25,422 in public health services, $36,288 in education and day centres, $39,110 in cultural activities, $43,340 in sport, $140,761 in charities and $50,511 in other community projects.  The total amount invested in 2006 was $335,432.