"The Leningrad region is becoming the largest center for gas processing and gas chemistry"

Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of the Leningrad Region, spoke in an exclusive interview with Izvestia about the strategic development of the port of Ust-Luga, which is becoming the largest transport and industrial hub in Europe with an emphasis on transshipment of mineral fertilizers and gas processing. The head of the region pointed out that special attention is being paid to creating comfortable conditions for young teachers, including housing support and incentive programs. In addition, close cooperation between the Leningrad Region and St. Petersburg in transport infrastructure, social sphere and agglomeration development is being discussed.

Ust-Luga is becoming the largest hub in Europe

— Alexander Yurievich, the first question is about the port of Ust-Luga, as it is a key element of the transport infrastructure on the Baltic Sea. From your point of view, what strategic projects will be implemented in the coming years? How will the Ust-Luga—Kaliningrad route develop?

— Ust-Luga is operating stably despite the sanctions. Last year, the transshipment amounted to 135 million tons, which is one of the best figures over the past few years. And most importantly, capacity continues to increase, and some cargoes are being replaced by others. Today we are becoming the largest hub in Europe, not just Russia. For example, one third of the 135 million tons is transshipment of mineral fertilizers, and to distant countries. We ship a lot of fertilizers to Brazil.

Therefore, the prospects for development are related, among other things, to mineral fertilizers. By the way, we just signed an agreement for 80 billion rubles with the Port Favor company today. This is plus 12 million tons of mineral fertilizers. And another 2 million tons of ammonia. Ust-Luga has become the first point on the map of Russian ports where ammonia is shipped from all over the country.

Thus, we are becoming the largest center not only in Russia, but also in the world for gas processing and gas chemistry.

Today we signed another agreement for 178 billion rubles on deep gas processing, transportation and shipment. What is the essence of the project? Now, various products will be produced from what will be separated from the gas: ammonia, carbamide, plastics, and granules. And the dry gas will be liquefied and shipped by gas carriers all over the world.

"One third of our investments are concentrated in the Ust-Luga region"

— There is a feeling that Ust-Luga is more than a port. This is already some kind of comprehensive approach to a wide variety of economic opportunities.

— We already have a free economic zone in Ust-Luga. Now we are talking about expanding it or creating something similar nearby. And today, not only transshipment is on the agenda, but also processing and production. We are talking about new scientific developments, so Ust-Luga is becoming one of the growth points not only in Russia, but also a global economic growth point.

Today, the Leningrad Region is the number one region in terms of industrial investment in Russia — more than 5 trillion rubles. And the region is number two after Moscow in terms of total investment, including private investment, at 7.7 trillion rubles. So, about a third of our investments today are concentrated in the Ust-Luga region.

To create a special economic zone in Primorsk, it is necessary to define the boundaries and production

— How is the creation of a port-type special economic zone in Primorsk, Vyborg district, progressing?

— In order for a special economic zone to appear in Primorsk, it is necessary that investors first start implementing the projects already announced. We understand perfectly well that a free economic zone is being created for a specific list of industries. It must be localized, and its boundaries and conditions must be defined. Therefore, we believe that before we talk about creating a free economic zone in Primorsk, unlike Ust-Luga, we should still decide with investors on the boundaries of this economic zone and what will be in it.

"It is important that the teacher can count on having his own home"

— How is the Teacher of the Future project being implemented within the framework of the national Education project in the Leningrad Region? And what is the attractiveness of the work of young professionals, for example, in regional centers?

— In order for a young teacher to come to any region, including the Leningrad region, there must be several conditions. First, he should come and work at school, in a classroom where he is interested.

Secondly, it is, of course, the creation of living conditions, especially for a young teacher. These are both one-time payments and recruitment of personnel through a subsidy, through a "Rural mortgage". It is very important that the teacher can count on the appearance of his own home. And it doesn't matter if it's an office loan or a mortgage first.

We also need to create additional budget places, and we need compensation so that our students can study to become teachers. For example, we provide doctors who are guaranteed to return to the Leningrad Region with a governor's scholarship from the first day of their studies. At first it is 5 thousand rubles, then 10 thousand rubles and 15 thousand rubles. But a person with a guarantee must return and work as a doctor in the Leningrad region for at least three years. During this time, we are trying to provide him with official housing, followed by privatization in seven years.

It is important to retain the teacher by promising his education and receiving a reciprocal counter commitment. We helped you to graduate, and you come and start working in the Leningrad region. Then we'll try to come to an agreement with you so that you can stay with us. I would like to note that so far there is no shortage of teachers in the Leningrad Region in the new schools that we are opening.

"Two independent entities, one agglomeration"

— What would you call the key projects between the Leningrad Region and St. Petersburg? And in what areas is the intensive work currently underway?

— There is a slogan: "Two independent entities, one agglomeration." That's why we are working within the framework of the agglomeration development. But our first joint project is everything related to transport. These are the ZSD (Western High—speed Diameter), the KAD-2 (Ring Road), and the Eastern High—speed Diameter. These are the interchanges on the border of the city and the region. And also, of course, rail transport is the HSR (High—speed railway.— Editor's note), where the city and I are equal shareholders of the rest of the persons involved in the implementation of this project.

We have synchronized the unified maps of St. Petersburg and Leningrad with St. Petersburg. Now the St. Petersburg card will work in the Leningrad region, and the Leningrad card will work in St. Petersburg. This also applies to preferential projects, social benefits, and so on.

And, of course, modern approaches to the development of the territory. Why should we create our own water treatment plants from scratch, if we can get this service from the St. Petersburg Vodokanal on the border with the city? Or why would Petersburgers, for example, build substations or thermal power plants if they can connect to our facilities at the border?

There was also a very serious topic — access roads to gardening areas where residents of St. Petersburg live. The city and I have signed up and are reconstructing and repairing these roads in parts. Now we will also reconstruct and repair substations in shares, so that gardening, dacha partnership, electricity, joint medical care, and so on are provided, so to speak.