Svetogorsk (Cyrillic: Светогорск), is an industrial town, population 16,000, on the Karelian Isthmus, laying alongside Bank of Vuoksa. It is located 1 km from the Russia-Finland border, 5 km from the Finnish town of Imatra and 207 km from St. Petersburg. It forms part of the Leningrad Oblast region of Russia.
The town, founded in 1887, was originally Finnish controlled Enso. Hostilities led to its incorporation into the Soviet Union in 1944.
Map of the Karelian isthmus showing the current Finland-Russia border, Imatra, Svetogorsk and St. Petersburg
Industry
The town's major industry is pulp and paper.
OAO Svetogorsk, one of the biggest mills in Russia, is the major employer. Covering 2 km², OAO Svetogorsk produces pulp, printing papers and packaging board. Its brands include Svetocopy and Ballet office papers. Since December 1998 OAO Svetogorsk has been majority owned by International Paper. At end of 2001 the plant employed 3000 people.
Immediately adjacent to OAO Svetogorsk is a tissue mill. This formed part of the original mill complex but was split-away and resold by International Paper to SCA during the acquisition of OAO Svetogorsk from Tetra Laval, who controlled the plant since 1995. Svetogorsk Tissue, as the separate entity was to be called, became fully integrated into SCA Hygiene Products Division in 2003. It employs around 400 people. Its products include Zewa and Tork brands of paper towels and toilet tissue.
Border
The Imatra-Svetogorsk border plays a key role in transportation of timber between Russia and Finland. Also, around 150 employees commute daily from Imatra to the paper mills. The border, which had temporary status, was a frequent cause of bottlenecks due to lengthy Customs checks and inadequate facilities. A Russia-Finland agreement in 1997 allowed the development and eventual permanence of the border crossing. This €7 million European Union TACIS funded project ran from 1999 and the new international frontier, capable of handling 1300 cars per day, opened on 3rd July 2002. Further TACIS programmes are planned until 2010, including improvements to town infrastructure and the development of an industrial park with special tax rates.
External links
Last updated: 10-11-2005 18:38:35
