The Republic of Karelia has its own base of building materials. During 2006 – 2010, new companies were created for production of the most modern building materials: items for large panel house building and precast reinforced concrete structures (Penobeton Ltd, SANA Ltd, Stroyindustriya KSM Ltd, Tekhnotek Ltd, PSO-KSK Ltd, and “Karelian Concrete Company Ltd”), production of bricks and wall materials also increased (OJSC Kondopoga). Production of different kinds of construction materials was organized, which formerly were not produced or were produced in insignificant volumes including: heat insulation, roofing and hydro insulation materials (Karelmineral Ltd, Petropofile), wide assortment of window and door frames from plastic and aluminum (VEK-Steklov Ltd, SOLO Ltd, Euroline Ltd, Economic-Okna Ltd). There is a number of companies producing goods for low-rise buildings (Uyutny Dom Ltd, based on PSO-KSK Ltd, etc.).
The scope of work and services performed in construction in 2010 was 10,3 billion RUR, compared to 2009 it increased by 42,1 %, to 2005 – by 1,8 times in compatible prices.
In 2010 per each citizen of the republic there was 0,22 m2 of housing put into operation. The level of housing provision in the republic is rather high and at the end of 2010 was 25,6 m2 per person, which exceeds the average Russian index by 13,3 %.
In 2006-2010, over 695 000 m2 of total living area were put into operation in the Republic of Karelia, including individual developers’ share of 230,800 m2 of housing, which accounts for 33,2 % of the total housing area in the republic.
The Government of the Republic of Karelia is taking all necessary steps to ensure new housing construction in line with the regional indexes of the priority National Project “Affordable and comfortable housing for the Citizens of Russia” for 2011, in the volume of 182 000 m2, which will exceed the total volume of housing put into operation in 2010 27,8%.
One of the sources for investment in the regional economy is the republic’s participation in realization of federal target programs and federal target investment program, as well as the funds from the budget of the Republic of Karelia directed to construction and reconstruction on the territory of the republic.
Costs of realization of the Target Investment Program of the Republic of Karelia in 2010 with account for federal funds were - 1555,8 mln RUR, which is 11,2% higher than in 2009.
The Program financed 29 objects, 11 of which were put into operation in 2010. These include water treatment facilities in Petrozavodsk Stage I, gas distribution stations in Shuiskaya Station and in Meliorativny, Karelian State Museum of Regional Studies in Lenin Square, annex to the Kantele House, a residential house in Zaozerie.
To create a favorable climate for further development of the housing construction in the Republic, the Regional Program for Stimulating Housing Construction in the Republic of Karelia for 2011-2015. The program can be found here: http://www.kareliainvest.ru/ru/economrk/str
An important area for us remains expansion of production of heat insulation materials (foam polystyrene) and heat insulation materials on the basis of mineral fiber (basalt, etc.). today, in Karelia there is “Petrozavodsk Foam Polystyrene Plant” producing efficient heat and sound insulation materials on the basis of foam polystyrene.
A large investment project for producing heat insulation boards from rockwool (analogue of Rockwool, Paroc) in Kondopoga.
One can surely say that the priority area for the Republic of Karelia in the nearest future will be creation of conditions for new, first of all low-rise economy class housing with the cost of about 30-35 000 RUR per square meter.
The official website of the Ministry of Construction of the Republic of Karelia is: http://www.stroitel.karelia.ru
