Russian President Vladimir Putin officially launched a key hydrometallurgical plant at the Udokan copper deposit, one of the world's largest copper deposits. The facility was rebuilt almost entirely after a devastating fire in 2023 that destroyed much of the original infrastructure. The new plant will produce refined copper with a purity of 99.99% in cathode form.

Upon completion, the entire Udokan site is projected to reach a total capacity of 150,000 tons of copper per year, significantly boosting Russia's copper production capabilities.