As was noted by Mikhail Fradkov, Russia's prime minister, the programme will be finalised and "provide yet another opportunity to have a closer look at all questions related to the management of mineral resources."
During the discussion of the issue, Alexander Zhukov, Russia's vice-premier, focussed on excessively high investments in the exploration and development of the deposits of noble metals.
"Disproportionate funds are channeled into the development of gold and platinum deposists. However, the yield from their exports is much less than from hydrocarbons exports," Zhukov said. He proposed that the funds allocated for this purpose should be reduced to the basic figure or even more - to 20 bln roubles (with one dollar being roughly equivalent to 28.69 roubles).
In turn, Yuri Trutnev, minister of natural resources, said that estimates related to the need to channel funds into this sphere would be submitted during further work on the programme.
Commenting on Fradkov's remark concerning a possible increase in state funding of the exploration and development of mineral resources and a probable decrease in private investors' spending for this purpose, Trutnev said that this would never happen.
