IZHEVSK, Eastern European Russia. March 1 (Interfax-AVN) - The president and government in the Russian internal republic of Udmurtia have decided to renounce further work on a project to build a facility for the disposal of solid fuel rocket engines in Votkinsk, Prime Minister of Udmurtia Yuri Pitkevich told a Friday news conference in Izhevsk.
He said that the step was prompted by the stir caused by the project in Votkinsk and the surrounding area. Massive protests against the construction of the facility have lasted for several years.
Pitkevich said he had met the leadership of the Russian Aviation and Space Agency several days ago and explained the position of the Udmurtian president and government in the matter. The agency is the main customer of the project.
The prime minister is hoping that the decision will not affect the volume of the defense order placed with Udmurtian enterprises.
The decision to erect the facility in Votkinsk was made by the Russian government on December 29, 1997. However a referendum was held in the city on January 17, 1999, and 94.6 percent of those who came to the polls voted against the construction. A bit over 50 percent of locals cast their vote.
The investment project of the plant's construction is the largest in the republic, its value is estimated at USD100m-150m. The Energotec company of the United States is the contractor. Energotec took over the contract after the Lockheed Martin corporation declined to participate in the project.
The facility was expected to destroy 916 rockets most of which had been made in Votkinsk. The original plan scheduled the completion of the work for December 2003. Some 300 to 800 jobs were to be created at the enterprise.
A plot of land was allotted for the facility, and construction of roads and communications began. However the republic's authorities failed to elaborate their position in the issue, and the construction was suspended until spring 2002.
The Votkinsk plant produces Topol and Topol-M missile systems, as well as the Start and Start-1 launch vehicles.