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This Summary of Project Information is prepared and distributed to the public in advance of the IFC Board of Directors’ consideration of the proposed transaction. Its purpose is to enhance the transparency of IFC’s activities, and this document should not be construed as presuming the outcome of the Board decision. Board dates are estimates only.
Summary of Project Information (SPI)
Project number 21396
Project nameVolga Shipping Company
CountryRussian Federation
SectorTransportation And Warehousing
DepartmentInfrastructure
Company nameVolga Shipping Company
Environmental categoryB
Date SPI disclosedMarch 3, 2004
Projected board dateApril 29, 2004
StatusActive
Previous EventsInvested: September 16, 2005
Signed: May 23, 2005
Approved: April 29, 2004

Project sponsor and major shareholders of project company
VSC was privatized in 1994. At present, VSC is majority owned (57%) by a Russian individual, owner of the Corus Group Holdings Ltd. (BVI) and two other Russians, owners of Anhee Resources Inc. (BVI). Corus Group is a diversified company with its main activities including oil trading and transportation, ownership of a network of gas stations, leasing of rail tank cars and shipping. Anhee Resources is primarily involved in maritime shipping and ship management in Russia and abroad. The remaining shares are held with the Government of Russia (25.5%) and small individual shareholders, including present and former employees of the company.

Total project cost and proposed IFC investment
The IFC supported project includes the construction of up to 8 new 5,190 dead weight ton (“dwt”) dry-cargo river and sea vessels for about $65 million. The proposed IFC investment involves an A Loan for IFC’s own account of up to $27 million and a syndicated B Loan of up to $20 million.

Location of project and description of site
VSC is headquartered in Nizhny Novgorod, a city of 1.5 million people and a large industrial center located on the crossroads of major north-south and east-west multi-modal transportation routes. The Volga Basin (Volga River plus tributaries) occupies an area of 1,380 square km with a total population of over 40 million people. At present, VSC is an integrated river and short-sea shipping company with a total fleet (operational plus laid-up) of over 300 vessels active in international and domestic trade and passenger transportation.

Description of company and purpose of project
Volga Shipping Company (VSC or the company) is one of Russia’s largest river and sea shipping companies involved in the transportation of bulk cargo and passengers. VSC was originally founded in 1843. The proposed project will support the financing of the company’s vessel renewal program.

Environmental and social issues - Category B
This is a Category B project according to IFC’s Procedure for Environmental and Social Review of Projects because a limited number of specific environmental impacts may result which can be avoided or mitigated by adhering to generally recognized performance standards, guidelines or design criteria. The review of this projected consisted of appraising technical and environmental information submitted by the project sponsor, and site visits by IFC staff. The following potential environment, health and safety impacts of the project were analyzed:

- Environmental, health and safety management systems;
- Vessel safety and pollution control;
- Oil/hazardous cargo spill prevention and control;
- Shipbuilding/repair yard pollution control and hazardous materials and waste management;
- Environmental contamination; and
- Employee health and safety.

To view the environmental documents for this project, click here


Location of environmental documents in locally affected community
Volga Shipping Company
15A, Markina sq., Nizhny Novgorod,
603001, Russia

To contact the project company, please write to:
Volga Shipping Company
Fax: +7 (8312) 30-14-41
e-mail: office@volgaflot.com