According to a Rustabak.ru report, a new cigarette making facility is to be put into operation in the city of Kursk in central Russia within the nearest months.

The new plant was constructed after the old local tobacco factory went bankrupt in 2004. Its machinery was then bought by Kursk-based PC Electroagregat. The company invested US$ 15 million in the project that included construction of a cigarette making facility and a new primary line. The plant has a capacity of two billion cigarettes per annum. It is planned to make ovals for a start, and then gradually turn to cheap filters. Contracts for leaf supplies from Moldova, Uzbekistan and India are reported to have been already signed. (vt)