Billionaire Gennady Timchenko is interested in processing garbage in the Moscow region, said Alexander Chuprakov, a deputy prime minister of the region, Vedomosti reported Tuesday.
Ecoline, a company affiliated with Timchenko and Vladimir Lavlentsev, has applied for a permit to start garbage processing in the region, he said. ?
Timchenko made his fortune in the oil industry through his Swiss-based trader, Gunvor.
More than 10 million tons of waste, or 20 percent of the country's domestic waste, is dumped in the Moscow region annually, Chuprakov said, Vedomosti reported.
Chuprakov said most of the garbage was stored in dumps that caused problems for the environment. The region wants to close 24 out of the 39 existing dumps, Chuprakov said.
Another company interested in garbage processing is MSM Logistika, which is controlled by the son of another prominent businessman, Alexander Chigirinsky. The company has already won a tender worth 25 billion rubles ($803 million) in Moscow.
Sources close to billionaire Roman Abramovich named him as a partner of MSM Logistika in the planned venture, but a spokesman for Abramovich denied it.
The Moscow region's government is planning to build 19 garbage processing plants in the region, Chuprakov said.
Unlike most European countries, Russia lacks the tradition of garbage recycling, and most of the waste is simply burned at garbage-processing facilities.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.