Employees of SGMK and key partner enterprises took part in the "Kuzbass Miner Brotherhood" parade.
For workers in the coal industry, this is the main day of the year – the miner's New Year, as they call it. On the eve of the holiday, the industry takes stock of the past year's results, inaugurates new production facilities, presents major state awards, and honors those who have made significant contributions to the development of the coal sector.
This year, the spotlight fell on the Sizykh brothers – a legendary mining dynasty that carried forward the Stakhanovite movement in the post-war years in Kemerovo Oblast. They built and developed the largest coal enterprises in southern Kuzbass, including the Zyryanovskaya, Abashevskaya, Yubileynaya, and Raspadskaya mines. In total, 19 members of this large family worked in the coal industry, and their children and grandchildren continue their legacy. The dynasty's combined work experience exceeds 350 years. As a mark of respect for their labor, a street in Novokuznetsk's Ordzhonikidzevsky district was named after the Sizykh brothers in 2009.
To take part in the "Kuzbass Miner Brotherhood" procession on Kirov Street in Novokuznetsk came the successors of the Sizykh brothers' legacy – top representatives and veterans of the coal industry, as well as metallurgists, mine rescuers, and students. In total, about 7,000 people took part.
Congratulations to Kuzbass miners were sent by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Russian Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilev.
For the Miner's Day celebration in Novokuznetsk, Anatoly Seryshev, the Russian President's Plenipotentiary to the Siberian Federal District, and Ilya Seredyuk, Governor of Kuzbass, arrived in the city.
The Russian President's Plenipotentiary to the Siberian Federal District expressed gratitude to workers and veterans of the coal industry for choosing this profession, for strengthening the power of the Russian state through entire family dynasties, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of domestic enterprises, and bringing warmth and light to our homes.
"Today, the coal mining industry remains the backbone of Kuzbass's economy and plays a huge role on a national scale. Nearly 100,000 people work in the industry, and it is our miners who extract half of Russia's coal. We are proud of you and sincerely grateful for your devoted service to the profession," the Governor of Kuzbass said in his welcome address.
Outstanding workers in the industry were presented with high honors – medals of the Order "For Services to the Fatherland," "For Services in the Development of the Fuel and Energy Complex," "Miner's Glory" badges of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degrees, and certificates of honor.
After the official ceremony, parade participants marched along Kirov Street to Theatre Square. Alongside the miners, shoulder to shoulder, walked employees of the Siberian Mining and Metallurgical Company, the West Siberian Electrometallurgical Plant, the Vtorresurs-Pererabotka enterprise, the Ecomet aluminum plant, and the Vtorichniye Resursy Sibiri tire recycling facility.
"Our team, together with SGMK, takes part in the Miners' Parade every year. It is a mark of deep respect for the difficult work of the miners," said Vladimir Chegodaev, CEO of Vtorresurs-Pererabotka LLC. "Kuzbass metallurgists and coal miners are the two wings of a powerful Siberian industry. Together, we ensure the energy and industrial security of our region."
The final stop of the festive route was Theatre Square. Creative, sports, and educational groups from the city and the southern agglomeration prepared a rich program for the parade participants. On Metallurgov Avenue, festive zones called "Kuzbass – Territory of Unity" were set up. Until the evening, the "City of Masters" fair, featuring more than 90 artisans, thematic courtyards representing the region's districts, cybersports zones, floorball tournaments, and interactive activity areas were open to the public.