Rustam Minnikhanov at the anniversary of Nizhnekamsk: ‘The city has retained its original purpose’
The President of Tatarstan together with the residents of Nizhnekamsk celebrated the 50th anniversary of the capital of the petrochemical industry in the region
The new city park, the embankment, the light and music fountains, acrobats, fireworks, new yards and roads, the TV tower, hundreds of bright lights, carnival parade, plans for the future and new ideas from Natalia Fishman. On 20 August, the city on the Nizhnaya Kama with unprecedented scale celebrated its 50th anniversary. Traditionally, a big feast was held with participation of Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, heads of large industrial enterprises of the city and of the Republic, the heads of ministries. How it was — in the report of the correspondent of Realnoe Vremya.
Video from the celebration can be viewed here.
'There is no such production in Russia'
Rustam Minnikhanov began his anniversary trip to Nizhnekamsk with the visit of the industrial site: he visited TANECO, had a look at the construction of TAIF-NK's Heavy Residue Conversion Complex (HRCC) — it is the largest investment project implemented by TAIF-NK. The President also visited the territory of the future industrial complex for the production of isoprene at Nizhnekamskneftekhim. At the other industrial site of the company he took part in the launch of the upgraded plant for the production of linear alpha olefins (LAO).
This kind of raw materials is extremely necessary today for the production of plastics. Earlier, they had to purchase butene and hexene from foreign manufacturers. Now, NKNK company started production at our own site. New technology Alpha-Sablin of LAO production has been developed by the German company Linde AG and Sabik (Saudi Arabia). The initial syllables of both brands became the title of the technology. Moreover, NKNK is the only major producer of this petrochemical product in Russia.
After greetings and awardings, the President, the Director General of TAIF holding Albert Shigabutdinov, the chairman of the Board of Directors of Nizhnekamskneftekhim Vladimir Busygin, the head of Nizhnekamskneftekhim and other honored guests pressed a symbolic start button of the unique production.
'The growth point of our Republic is the Kama cluster, and here the main part is Nizhnekamsk'
The next point of the program was the Mira Street, where was the parade, which involved four thousand workers of industrial enterprises, organizations, universities, colleges and kindergartens. Despite the 35-degree heat in the shade, tens of thousands of residents and visitors came to the city to watch the unprecedented procession.
Before the parade started, the President of Tatarstan congratulated the residents of the city with the semi-centennial jubilee. He recalled that 'the history of the city began in 1958. Then the decision was made on the foundation of Nizhnekamsk industrial district, the heart of which was to become the Europe's largest petrochemical complex. These were years of rapid development of the oil industry. In 1960, it was approved the general project. On 25 December, near the village Akhtuba there began the largest at the period the all-Union construction. Along with the chemical plant there was built and developed Nizhnekamsk: in 1966, it was awarded the status of a city; designers, builders, and the residents have created a garden city — beautiful and comfortable. The streets were given names of Youth, Builders, Ships, Quiet alley.'
The President called the names of the first settlers and honored residents who have made a special contribution to the development of the city. Speaking about the importance of the city for the Republic, Rustam Minnikhanov noted that 'Nizhnekamsk has retained its original purpose of the advanced, youth and industrial city, having become the petrochemical capital of the country: today, about 23% of all industrial output of our country is formed here. We are proud of the largest Russian enterprises of the petrochemical complex: Nizhnekamskneftekhim, Nizhnekamskshina, TANECO, TAIF-NK, which today employs a significant part of the population of Nizhnekamsk.'
Before the floor was given to the first builder Klavdiya Goncherenko, the President decided to add: 'In fact, the event is big, 50 years. And the city welcomes it with big plans, a bright future, we have a great desire to have an educational center, an entertainment center, and many other projects — there is a great program for the construction of housing, implemented by TAIF Group. I believe that the potential, the growth point of our Republic is the Kama cluster, and here the main part is Nizhnekamsk.'
Speaking on behalf of all those who built 'sun city on the Kama River', arrived with the first train by a sledge train in the winter of 1955 to build an industrial town Klavdiya Goncherenko sincerely called the residents of the city: 'Let's save all the beauty! Please, keep everything we have!'
Acrobats, Mary Poppins and a giant tire
After the awarding ceremony, at three o'clock the parade started, opened by young families, a wedding of whom took place on the same day, they were followed by the employees of the Nizhnekamsk Registry Office, recognized the best in Tatarstan in 2015.
Each column was different: the employees of NKNK were dressed in t-shirt of the colours of the periodic table; the procession of the working team of the tire plant was preceded by a design with a makeshift giant rotating tire, in which the acrobats surprised the stunts. The desire of the TAIF-NK company to be the engine of ambitious projects was symbolized by a train, 'a driving force' were the employees of the company. The kindergarten teachers tried on the image of Mary Poppins. The staff of TANECO were playing on the barrels. The builders improvised a welding process of the industrial plants.
The parade participants were not only employees of enterprises, various budgetary institutions: here you could see the riders and horses of the equestrian school Aktay, the actors of the Tall Brothers & Tall brothers (Moscow), who surprised with the circus tricks performed on stilts.
Second wing of the embankment
The next point of the visit of the presidential delegation was the reconstructed embankment on the Kama River and the composition around the sacred spring. Many residents of the city came here to admire the beauty of it.
Having received from the regional budget 101 million rubles, and from TAIF group of companies — another 90 million rubles, the embankment began to turn into an architectural landmark of the city. The residents of the city also participated in the development of the project in addition to the group of Moscow architects, which was brought to Nizhnekamsk by Natalia Fishman.
Natalia Fishman, telling the head of the Republic about the prospects of the embankment, noticed that the entrepreneurs of Nizhnekamsk with great initiative treated a further development of this territory and are ready to participate in the project next year. Besides, said the assistant of the President, they are palnning to extend the beach area, which is 3 hectares, to create an eco-park with an area of 13 hectares.
Having wished the citizens all the best and noting that 'the city is tranforming and blooming year after year', the President headed to Neftekhim Arena, where the anniversary coincided with the opening of the Junior Club World Cup. The teams of Kazakhstan, Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Czech Republic and Slovakia came Nizhnekamsk and Naberezhnye Chelny (it is another place, which will host Cup Games) to fight for the trophy. Russia is represented by Nizhnekamsk Reactor and Yaroslavl Loko.
Before the match, Rustam Minnikhanov was presented a project of industrial park Alabuga-2, which will be located on the territory of Nizhnekamsk Municipality.
Finally, it was the turn of the new attraction of the city – the Park Semya (Family Park). While walking in the Park, the President and the city authorities received the words of gratitude for the wonderful celebration and the gift — the city park. Then it was given the start to the music fountain.
Today, the Park — it is the seven functional zones away from the hustle and bustle depending on the type of holiday — active or relaxing, restaurants, coffee shop, bicycle rental, children's playground, one of the largest in the RT area of 2 800 sq. m. There is the spray park with various water attractions and dry musical light-dynamic fountain.
From Kazan – with love
In the light of street lighting, the President reached the square of Lemaev, where during the day the guests were treated by the best restaurants of Kazan. There was a real gastronomic festival. The best dishes of Uzbek cuisine restaurants Uryuk and Rubai, Tatar cuisine — Tugan avylym, Turkish cuisine — Sofra Kebab, cafe of Japanese cuisine — Yakitoriya, a French pastry shop — Truffaut. A huge chak-chak with a view of the Kazan Kremlin was brought to the capital of Nizhnekamsk by the bakery plant, which is also headed by a native of Nizhnekamsk, the son of the former director of the city bakery, and then the deputy head of the Nizhnekamsk municipality Fatikh Kutdusov, Bulat.
This was the final point in the framework of the visit of Rustam Minnikhanov in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Nizhnekamsk. In a short interview the President said: 'Everything that is done in Nizhnekamsk, it is made for its inhabitants. This quality of life, it's living conditions — parks, squares, waterfront complex. It is a huge investment of city leaders, but most importantly, the group of companies TAIF — Nizhnekamskneftekhim and the group of companies Tatneft. TAIF, Tatneft have made a huge contribution to the preparations for the 50th anniversary. We believe that the city of Nizhnekamsk, Nizhnekamsk area, it is the most promising in economic terms. There is the economy, so there is the prospect.'
