OREANDA-NEWS. September 16, 2010. A visiting joint meeting of the Supreme Council of the Mining Non-Profit Partnership "Russian Mining Operators" and the Council of the "Union of Russian Oil and Gas Producers" was held In Kazan with the participation of the authorities of Tatarstan, OJSC TATNEFT, as well as other oil companies and research institutions dedicated to the 60th anniversary of TATNEFT Company establishment, reported the press-centre of TATNEFT.

The meeting took place in the framework of discussing of the concept of long-term development of the oil industry in the Russian Federation: a basic document for the formation of the general development scheme of the oil industry until 2020. Taking Tatarstan as an example, the issue of enhancing the role of small and medium businesses in the long-term development of the mineral complex of Russia was comprehensively addressed.

Yury Shafrannik, Chairman of the Supreme Mining Council, Chairman of the Board of the Union of Oil and Gas Producers of Russia recalled that creation of the oil and gas complex in Tatarstan from scratch in the 50-ies and 60-ies of the last century had been the very first major oil project of the Soviet era. The value of the Tatarstan oil for the Soviet Union can not be overemphasized. In this regard, Yuri Shafranik called TATNEFT a great company with a great past.

Support for small businesses in the oil industry, innovative approaches, and rapid development of new technologies and equipment has been consistently provided in Tatarstan for a long time. In this regard the Republic of Tatarstan has been a master form since the early 90-ies. Support for small and medium businesses in the Republic has for 20 years allowed increasing crude oil production from unproductive areas and additionally producing millions of tons of crude oil using low-yield stock. Yuri Shafranik said that 20 percent of crude oil produced in the Republic had been produced by small oil companies (IOCs). According to him, the "Union of Russian Oil and Gas Producers" will address the country's leadership with the initiative to convene a meeting of the State Council on this subject in the territory of Tatarstan.

The meeting was also addressed by Gennady Schmal, President of the Union of Oil and Gas Producers of Russia, Yury Malyshev, President of NP "Miners of Russia", Valery Graifer, Chairman of the Board of Lukoil, General Director of OJSC RITEK and others. TATNEFT was represented by Ravil Ibatullin, Director of TatNIPIneft R&D Institute, who delivered a presentation on promoting development of crude oil fields as an important factor of state support for small and medium businesses.

The resolution adopted contains recommendations to the Government of the Russian Federation and the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on the need for measures to support small scale enterprising in the oil industry.

TATNEFT Company has been awarded an honorary Ist degree "Miner's Glory" plaque for a great contribution to the industry branch, while some of the Company's employees have been awarded honorary plaques of the Union of Russian Oil and Gas Producers.