Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK) carried out the first tests of its cold-roll Mill 2000 (a continuous etching line combined with a tandem mill) first section. According to MMK PR Department, the tests have shown that some positive performance indicators were observed in terms of speed modes and the thickness parameters. At the moment, the things being tested are the performance of the emulsion system and of the automated control system. The assembly of the technological machinery relating to the first section of Mill 2000 has already been completed. The technique of grinding backup

The merger of Yekaterinburggaz and GAZEKS might get competed as soon as January 2012, so that a single gas-distributing company EGRO will be created as a result, GAZEKS Managing Director and Yekaterinburggaz DG Denis Pasler announced at a press conference in Yekaterinburg. This year, Sverdlovsk Region’s two main natural gas distributing networks are working under a single technological policy. This was made possible due to IES being allowed to handle the operation management of Yekaterinburggaz since December 2010,’ Pasler explained.

The criminal lawsuit involving a Yekaterinburg entrepreneur Alexei Kalinichenko is still in progress; the businessman is suspected of setting up a pyramid scheme called Global Gaming Expo and stealing over 1 billion RUR worth of 4,000 Russian citizens’ savings. The investigation of the case has been prolonged till September 2011 and could be prolonged even further not only because this is a difficult case but also because the amount of work to be done is enormous. There are about 4,000 victims, and everyone has to be accounted for. Our investigative officer works every day,’ the press service

Bank Yekaterinburg Board of Directors held a meeting on May 31, 2011 to elect Mayor of Yekaterinburg Alexander Yakob Chairman of the Board. The news has been reported via the bank’s official website.

Yekaterinburg has 0.5 sq m worth of office space per every 1,000 dwellers, which makes it Russia’s No. 2 in terms of office in space, the spokesperson for Deputy Mayor of Yekaterinburg Viktor Konteev Ilona Starodubtseva announced recently. As far as good quality offices are concerned, Yekaterinburg is only overcome by Moscow with its 2.2 sq m of office space per every 1,000 dwellers. The two leaders are followed by Saint Petersburg with its 0.4 sq m of office space per every 1,000 dwellers, and Kazan and Omsk, with 0.27 sq m and 0.17 sq m worth of office space per every 1,000 dwellers,

Sverdlovsk Region is going to buy 150,000 shares of Mid-Urals Development Corporation; each share comes at 1,000 RUR apiece. The shares in question are an additional issue of the corporation’s ordinary registered paperless shares worth a total of 150m RUR.