Exec sees Russia’s Udokan field development starting in 2012

MOSCOW, Dec 13 (PRIME-TASS) -- The development of Russia’s Udokan copper field is expected to start in 2012, Sergei Chemezov, CEO of state industrial conglomerate Rostekhnologii, said Monday at a meeting with Mongolian businesspeople.

The field is developed by Rostekhnologii.

The designing of production facilities is to be completed in 2011, he said.

Some of the copper concentrate produced at the field may be exported to Mongolia, he said.

The Udokan deposit in the Zabaikalsky Region is one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper deposits, with 1.31 billion tonnes of mineable ore and an estimated 19.7 million tonnes of copper at an ore grade of 1.51%.