The largest nature conservation project undertaken by Uralkali last year was construction of underground void filling complexes. The company spent about 225 million rubles for these purposes. Goafs were packed with halite waste and mud. This made it possible to reduce waste stockpiled on the surface by 4.1 million tons.

Uralkali continues to transfer production to ecologically clean fuels. In 2003, it gasified the boiler shop of BKRU-4 and the drying sections of the BKRU-2 and BKRU-4 factories. This reduced the discharge of pollutants into the atmosphere by 40.7% compared to 2002. In addition to this, last year Uralkali began to transfer motor vehicles to liquid gas. So far, 28 motor vehicles, or 17.6% of the motor park, have been re-equipped for liquid-gas operation. Avtotranskali, the motor vehicle division of Uralkali, has been declared winner of the regional ecological competition "Clean Air."

In 2003, Uralkali increased the volume of recycled and return water supply. As a result, dumping of industrial sewage water into the rivers Zyryanka, Lenva and Bygel decreased by 7%. Dumping of sewage water into water bodies by all production units of the enterprise did not exceed two-thirds of the allowed volume. Overall, 20 nature conservation projects were implemented by Uralkali over the year, including two such projects over and above the plan.

Last year, Uralkali successfully passed the audit conducted by international auditors and received an international environmental management certificate in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard. Uralkali was the first industrial enterprise in Berezniki to receive the Russian environmental management certificate, which was granted to Uralkali in 2002.

"Improvement of the ecological situation in Berezniki is one of the priorities of the Company," says Maxim Bakshinsky, Director of Uralkali. "We are keen to create a healthy environment in the city where we and our children live. Therefore, Uralkali is increasing investments in nature conservation and is constantly searching for and implementing the technologies which minimize the impact produced by production on the environment."

Uralkali's strategy in the sphere of environmental protection is formulated in a special document "Policy in the Field of the Quality and Protection of the Environment," which is updated every year. One of the mandatory requirements of this document is that the personnel of the Company be educated in the protection and careful treatment of the environment. In 2003, the problems of industrial ecology and Russian legislation in the field of nature conservation were included in the programs of upgrading courses, which were completed by 505 Uralkali specialists.