A symbolic "key turning" ceremony was attended by Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Prime Minister, Zakhar Smushkin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ilim Group, John Faraci, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of International Paper, and Sergey Eroschenko, Governor of the Irkutsk Oblast.    

Total investments in the Big Bratsk project exceeded USD 800 million. Annual capacity of the new fiberline after ramp-up will reach 720,000 t of bleached softwood market pulp, with the total annual pulp and paper products output of the Bratsk Mill of OJSC Ilim Group exceeding 1 million t per year.

In his speech Medvedev congratulated the participants of the inauguration ceremony with a start up of the new fiberline.  "This is an important and long-awaited event. This industry has not seen such large investments over a long time, and this is a remarkable milestone for the entire industry," said the Prime Minister. "The Big Bratsk project is a good example of well-coordinated efforts of business community and regional and federal authorities."