Category: Фосагро

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Moscow, March 26, 2026. During the XXXV Congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), whose plenary session was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, PhosAgro Group was awarded for its third consecutive victory in the National Award "Leaders of Responsible Business."

"The RSPP regularly summarizes the results of the national award, 'Leaders of Responsible Business.' I know that the number of its laureates is growing, which means the desire to improve lives not only within their enterprises but also around them is becoming increasingly common in business practice. I congratulate the award winners and note that there should be more initiatives that bring real benefits to people," Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized during the Congress's plenary session.

The National Award was established by order of Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023. Its main goal is to support responsible business practices and recognize companies' contributions to social development: the creation of a favorable social and natural environment, sustainable territorial development, and a stronger country.

The Award Organizing Committee was headed by Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova, and President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin. Applications were received from 101 companies.

When reviewing applications, both the overall indicators of a comprehensive company assessment, as recorded in authoritative Russian indices and sustainable development ratings, and the companies' contribution to solving socially significant problems, as exemplified by corporate programs in key areas of strategic development, were taken into account.

RSPP President Alexander Shokhin: "PhosAgro's third consecutive victory in the National Responsible Business Leaders Award confirms that social responsibility and the desire to make a significant contribution to achieving national development goals have become an integral part of the company's operations.

We see a clear example of systematic work, where high standards in environmental safety and social investment are maintained and consistently improved over many years.”

PhosAgro CEO Alexander Gilgenberg: "For 25 years now—since PhosAgro's founding in 2001—caring for our workforce and all residents of the regions where we operate has been our absolute priority. It is on this foundation that we set new production records every year, build new capacity, develop innovations, and increase tax revenues. Over the past five years, PhosAgro has allocated 60 billion rubles to social and charitable projects, including a record 14 billion rubles in 2024 and 2025.

We support the government's extensive efforts to cultivate physically and mentally healthy youth, create a comfortable urban environment, and train professional personnel. The goal of this new ambitious project by PhosAgro, Murmansk Arctic University (MAU), and regional authorities is to create a nationally leading higher education school for mining engineers in the Arctic city of Apatity. The company will invest 3 billion rubles in the project over three years. As early as the new academic year, future mining engineers will have access to a unique underground training facility. This three-kilometer facility offers modern mining infrastructure where students can hone their skills through hands-on practice.

In September, the number of places for full-time study in mining and chemical specialties will almost double. The faculty will be reinforced by staff from the Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where PhosAgro funded the creation of a modern research center that has become a magnet for young scientists from across the country. The educational infrastructure of the MAU branch in Apatity will also be expanded. Of the 12 new laboratories to be created, six have already opened their doors to students. Next year, a new dormitory with comfortable student accommodation and recreational facilities will be built.

Our third consecutive victory in the National Award "Leaders of Responsible Business" serves as the most authoritative confirmation of the effectiveness of our social projects. On behalf of PhosAgro's management, I thank the Award Organizing Committee for this great honor!

PhosAgro's programs were among the best in two categories of the National Award:

PhosAgro's corporate housing program won the award for "Contribution to the Development of Responsible Investment and Financing of Sustainable Development Projects."

Implementing a corporate housing program is a priority for the company's social policy. As part of the program, PhosAgro not only helps employees purchase apartments on the existing market and from third-party developers but also undertakes to build residential buildings, particularly in regions where new housing is in short supply. Between 2014 and 2024, the company built six buildings (approximately 700 apartments) in Cherepovets, Balakovo, Kirovsk, and Volkhov. In Cherepovets, a new building with 72 apartments was completed in 2025. When constructing its own buildings, the Company uses the most advanced technologies and ensures that employees receive apartments with convenient layouts and turnkey renovations, as well as develops the surrounding areas (building playgrounds, recreation and sports areas, convenient parking, and sidewalks). Since the program's inception, approximately 3,200 employees have improved their housing conditions with PhosAgro's assistance. The program's implementation serves as an important support measure for young families, helps attract and retain highly qualified personnel, and develops the urban environment in PhosAgro's regions of operation.

– In the category "For Contribution to the Achievement of National Goals and Objectives Aimed at Developing Human Potential," the winners included the program for developing professional education and training within the framework of PhosAgro's "School—College/University—Enterprise" educational model.

PhosAgro systematically allocates funds for the technical equipment of leading specialized secondary vocational schools in the regions where it operates (Cherepovets Chemical Engineering College; the Murmansk Arctic University branch in Kirovsk; Volkhov Multidisciplinary Technical School; and the Volga Region College of Technology and Management in Balakovo) and participates in adapting their educational programs to the needs of modern production.

The sponsored colleges implement a dual education model, with up to 70% of students' practical training conducted at the company's facilities, and approximately 500 students annually completing internships at PhosAgro production facilities. Fifty percent of graduates in mining and chemistry from the sponsored colleges are hired by the company each year.

PhosAgro's educational model received high praise from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who, during a visit to the Cherepovets Chemical Engineering College, sponsored by PhosAgro, called it "a new, interesting, promising, and flexible system." The experience of training highly qualified engineering and blue-collar workers within PhosAgro's educational model was recommended by the Federation Council for replication by the Russian Government in the development of the federal "Professionalism" project. The company has employed over 4,000 graduates of the corporate educational model.

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Moscow. March 26, 2026. During the XXXV Congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), whose plenary session was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, RSPP President Alexander Shokhin presented PhosAgro CEO Alexander Gilgenberg with a congratulatory address on the occasion of the company's 25th anniversary.

President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin:

“I congratulate the PhosAgro team on its 25th anniversary!

PhosAgro's history is one of growth and success. These years have been marked by many remarkable events and accomplishments. For a quarter of a century, the company has demonstrated robust growth, consistently increasing production, and making a significant contribution to the country's food security. Such impressive achievements are the result of the coordinated, highly professional work of its thousands-strong team and sound management decisions. During this time, you have implemented numerous important investment projects and earned the right to be considered an industry leader, setting the highest corporate standards.

PhosAgro has won the National "Leaders of Responsible Business" award three times with the highest final score. It is the only company to have won the Grand Prix of the RSPP All-Russian Competition "Business Flagships: Dynamics, Responsibility, Sustainability" four times. As part of its social responsibility policy, you implement a wide range of environmental and charitable programs aimed at supporting education, sports, healthcare, and youth in the regions where you operate.

I wish the united team of chemists and miners from Cherepovets, Kirovsk, Volkhov, and Balakovo new great goals and achievements, prosperity, and optimism!

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Moscow. March 23, 2026. Denis Novikov, CEO of Apatit JSC (part of the PhosAgro Group), discussed PhosAgro's IT transformation strategy at the Digital Chemistry Forum, presenting key projects to automate the company's production, service, and corporate processes.

The expert discussion platform brought together representatives from Russia's largest chemical and oil and gas companies, as well as technology and telecommunications companies, industry media, and scientific organizations. The main topic was an introduction to innovative products from domestic developers and their successful implementation in the real economy.

Speaking at the plenary session, Denis Novikov, CEO of Apatit JSC, noted that the digital environment at the Group's enterprises is currently undergoing a profound transformation at both the software and hardware levels. These changes were prompted by the refusal of major foreign developers and suppliers to service and support their solutions.

The response to this challenge was a proprietary import substitution strategy, under which all critical system components are being upgraded with domestic equivalents. PhosAgro is also a pioneer in the industry in many areas, developing and implementing digital solutions that simply did not exist in the domestic software sector. For example, with government support, an automated production management system was put into commercial operation at the Cherepovets complex in 2025, and the pilot operation of an automated resource management system and a customer relationship management system will be completed in the first quarter of this year.

"Already at the development stage, we established much more stringent requirements for system security, flexibility, and functionality, as well as the implementation of artificial intelligence tools and technologies. At the same time, we continue to strengthen and expand our own infrastructure, implementing a project with our technology partner to build a third distributed data center," emphasized Denis Novikov, CEO of Apatit JSC. "And while at the initial stage, our goal was import substitution and digital sovereignty, today we can confidently say that we are moving to a qualitatively new level – achieving technological leadership. We have everything we need for this: experience, expertise, a team, as well as the political will and support of PhosAgro's management."

During thematic sessions, the company's functional managers discussed the specifics of this work in more detail. Deputy Director for Economic Security Sergey Cherkasov presented a report on the status of particularly significant government-supported projects, Director of the Project Office Department Andrey Nisanov discussed the progress of import substitution of the ERP system, and Director of the AI Solutions Development Department Maxim Samoilov discussed the integration of artificial intelligence technologies into the company's production, service, and corporate-wide business processes.

The forum also featured another Demo Day of the Industrial Competence Center (ICC) "Chemistry and Pharmaceuticals." Participants of the Industrial Competence Center, including customers, vendors, and developers, presented best practices for cooperation in software import substitution and digital transformation.

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Moscow. On March 20, 2026, PhosAgro awarded the winners of the Academician N.P. Laverov Scholarship Competition for the ninth time. The company also supported 10 talented students from the D.I. Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia (UCTUR). Since the program's inception in 2022, 90 young men and women studying in programs related to ecology and environmental management, and the technologies of new materials and substances have become laureates.

The awards ceremony was attended by Rector of the Russian Chemical Technology University (RCTU) Sergey Filatov, Director of the Institute of Chemistry and Sustainable Development Problems (RCTU) Natalia Tarasova, and Deputy Chief of Staff of the CEO of PhosAgro PJSC Boris Levin.

Rector of the Russian Chemical Technology University (RCTU) Sergey Filatov: "Every time we award the N.P. Laverov Scholarship, I feel immense pride for our students, because I understand the tremendous work they've accomplished. This is worthy of respect. May this award give you the strength and confidence to move forward and set the highest and most daring goals. We express our sincere gratitude to PhosAgro for its long-standing successful partnership and unwavering support of young researchers."

Natalia Tarasova, Director of the Institute of Chemistry and Problems of Sustainable Development at the D.I. Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia: "The scholarship is not only recognition of a student's achievements but also a responsibility. A responsibility to those who support young researchers today and to those who will follow in their footsteps. We believe that each of the scholarship recipients has great discoveries and true victories ahead. And PhosAgro's invaluable contribution and support create a reliable platform on which talented young people can confidently experiment and build successful careers."

Boris Levin, Deputy Chief of Staff to the CEO of PhosAgro, said: "It's crucial for us to support talented young people, especially those who already demonstrate their scientific potential during their student years. The Laverov Scholarship comes with a certain responsibility—to live up to the stature of Nikolai Pavlovich. I am confident that the knowledge and scientific experience you've gained will help you realize your potential in your profession, and that chemistry, once chosen, will remain your life's work."

The N.P. Laverov Scholarship Competition is part of a large-scale collaboration between PhosAgro and the Russian Chemical Technology University (RCTU), which encompasses the implementation of scholarship programs, the organization of career guidance events and lectures for students and faculty, and the provision of modern equipment for the university's laboratories and classrooms. Furthermore, since 2024, with financial support from PhosAgro, the Academician A.S. Sadykov Scholarship Program has been successfully implemented for students of the RCTU Tashkent Branch.

Comprehensive collaboration with universities is part of PhosAgro's support for young scientists, alongside international green chemistry schools and the "Green Chemistry for Life" project, a joint project with UNESCO and IUPAC. Over the past 10 years, an international scientific jury has awarded grants to 55 young scientists from 33 countries.

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Moscow. March 18, 2026. PhosAgro Group and the Ordzhonikidze State Geological Prospecting University of Russia (MGRI) are strengthening their collaboration in training specialists for the mining and processing industry.

The first in the planned series of events was "PhosAgro Day at MGRI." Participants included PhosAgro University Rector Yuri Panov, PhosAgro PJSC CEO Deputy Chief of Staff and Advisor to the CEO of Apatit JSC Boris Levin, and Sergey Lobanov, CEO of the Ya.V. Samoilov Research Institute for Fertilizers and Insectofungicides (NIUIF), a PhosAgro subsidiary.

At the meeting, key areas and prospects for further cooperation in education and science were discussed. Particular attention was paid to developing a practice-oriented approach to training specialists in key areas of geological exploration and mining. MGRI will provide targeted training for PhosAgro companies in the university's core areas of geological exploration, mining geology, mineralogy, and mining ecology. Plans are underway to expand the university's internship and internship programs.

PhosAgro is also interested in collaborating with MGRI's specialized divisions—the Center for Efficient Subsoil Use and the Engineering Center. This collaboration will focus on joint research and applied projects, as well as the search for technological solutions for the Group's enterprises.

Collaboration will also develop through partner training of specialists in geological exploration and mineralogy for a specialized unit established within the Samoilov National Research University of Natural Resources. Training will be based on a practice-oriented approach, applying acquired knowledge to problem-solving under the guidance of MGRI faculty and experienced specialists from the Samoilov National Research University of Natural Resources.

An important component of this collaboration will be the development of network educational programs using the university's scientific and educational resources in applied geology and mineralogy, as well as the use of artificial intelligence for the technical and economic assessment of promising deposits and the optimization of solid mineral production at existing deposits.

The combined capabilities of the university and the PhosAgro Group, which has extensive practical experience in implementing educational programs in higher and secondary vocational education, including organizing industrial internships at enterprises and training sites, will create unique opportunities for training specialists for the domestic mining industry.

PhosAgro, as an industrial partner, will provide the necessary material and technical resources for students to develop practical skills in operational exploration and deposit prospecting, working with modern mining equipment, using digital models of open-pit and underground mining facilities, and addressing practical issues in industrial and environmental safety during the extraction and enrichment of apatite-nepheline ores and their integrated use.

Students will have the opportunity to complete practical training and apply their acquired knowledge to solving specific industrial production problems. This will be facilitated by PhosAgro's proven practice of assigning experienced mentors to students.

MGRI Rector Yuri Panov noted the particular significance of the partnership with the company for the university's development: "PhosAgro occupies a key place in MGRI's strategy for engaging with industrial partners. This collaboration is valuable to us because it allows us to directly connect academic research and education with the real-world needs of modern manufacturing. I am confident that PhosAgro Day will open a new chapter in our relationship, provide impetus for joint research projects, and, most importantly, expand the horizons for students' professional growth. We train specialists for the industry, and partners like PhosAgro help us do this at the highest level."

"The partnership between PhosAgro and MGRI is part of the overall shift in higher education toward new standards for training specialists in the mining industry. It opens up prospects for introducing new, in-demand specialties into the university's curriculum. Students will be able to complete internships at the laboratories and training grounds of the Apatity branch of Murmansk Arctic University, where PhosAgro, in collaboration with the university and the Murmansk region, is creating a unique Higher School for the Training of Mining Engineers. Furthermore, joint scientific and educational conferences and forums will strengthen professional dialogue and expand opportunities for the exchange of experience and knowledge," emphasized PhosAgro CEO Alexander Gilgenberg.

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Moscow. March 6, 2026. PhosAgro implemented an AI agent to optimize HR operations. This digital solution, based on generative artificial intelligence, is another result of the company's strategic collaboration with Sber's IT team and partners.

PhosAgro currently employs over 24,000 people at its production facilities, located in several regions of the country, and the company's products are supplied to more than 100 countries. At the same time, the fierce competition in the labor market and the global scale of the tasks it solves require HR departments to be as effective as possible in finding and hiring highly qualified specialists.

"To optimize our job posting process, we decided to use cutting-edge technologies. The implemented virtual assistant was developed using technologies from the SRT Group and Sber's GigaChat for Business neural network model. The AI agent has already been deployed and is being tested at PhosAgro. Specialists activate the agent on their work computers with a single click and communicate with it in simple, understandable language. Test results show that this technology, compared to previous manual processes, has saved over 93% of candidate search time, accelerated the preparation and posting of job openings by 90%, and reduced the candidate evaluation time by over 70%. Therefore, the process from the start of a job posting to hiring an employee is potentially accelerated by over 40%," emphasized Denis Novikov, CEO of Apatit JSC (part of the PhosAgro Group).

Upon request, the AI agent can analyze a collection of resumes, evaluate, rate, and rank applicants based on specified criteria. Furthermore, the digital assistant can help HR specialists prepare for candidate interviews by formulating relevant questions based on the required competencies and experience. By automating routine processes and providing more accurate assessments, the company was able to reduce the number of vacancies and attract highly qualified specialists.

The solution has become a fully-fledged digital assistant, freeing HR departments from routine tasks. The team has already integrated the AI agent with PhosAgro's corporate knowledge base and a third-party recruiting platform, enabling the assistant to generate responses using a large amount of external information and maintain context, including corporate terms, abbreviations, and acronyms. Even at the first stage, the agent accurately identified within seconds whether PhosAgro's current benefits package matched the needs of candidates in a specific region. Furthermore, the agent can be integrated with other recruiting resources.

Plans for the AI agent's development include increased automation of business processes, even deeper integration with various services, connecting the assistant to communication with job seekers, and addressing strategic business development challenges.

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Moscow. March 3, 2026. PhosAgro Group (Moscow Exchange, LSE: PHOR), a Russian vertically integrated company and one of the world's leading producers of phosphate-based fertilizers, successfully placed a yuan-denominated bond issue.

The volume of the Series BO-02-05 bond issue was 1.5 billion yuan. The bonds bear a fixed coupon rate of 8.00% per annum, with a coupon period of 91 days. The maturity of the issue is 3.2 years.

Expert RA rating agency assigned the issue the highest possible credit rating of ruAAA.

During the bookbuilding process, significant demand was generated from banks, institutional and private investors, which allowed the issue to be placed at the lower end of the marketing coupon rate range.

Trading of the bond issue on the Moscow Exchange began on March 3, 2026. Gazprombank is the organizer and placement agent.

"A year later, PhosAgro returned to the Russian market with a yuan-denominated issue. Compared to last year's deal, the volume increased by 50%, and the coupon rate decreased by almost 2.5 percentage points. Despite market volatility caused by rising rates on quasi-currency instruments, the placement was successful and demonstrated investor confidence in the company's credit quality and a willingness to invest long-term in yuan bonds," commented Denis Shulakov, First Vice President of Gazprombank and Head of Capital Markets.

"We are grateful to investors for their interest in our third yuan bond issue amid challenging conditions in the quasi-currency market. Strong demand from market participants confirms confidence in PhosAgro's credit quality and the effectiveness of our financial strategy. This placement, with an increased volume and reduced coupon rate, was made possible thanks to the company's stable position and consistent efforts to optimize its borrowing structure. We will continue to strengthen our position in the debt market, offering investors high-quality instruments and confirming our reputation as a reliable issuer," commented Alexander Sharabayko, Deputy CEO for Finance and International Projects at PhosAgro.

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Cherepovets (Vologda Region). On March 2, 2026, PhosAgro launched the Global ERP import-substituting resource management system into pilot production. This domestically produced solution replaces its foreign counterpart for automating production and sales processes for finished products, as well as calculating their cost.

Previously, Oracle's imported OEBS R12 system was used for these purposes, but in 2022, its developer unilaterally discontinued technical support for its product in Russia. This decision forced large industrial enterprises to begin developing their own software alternative.

With support from the Skolkovo Foundation, specialists from Apatit JSC (part of the PhosAgro Group), Business Technologies (the vendor of the Global ERP system), and the domestic integrator Filosofiya IT took on this ambitious task. In September 2024, the combined team began work on the project, which was deemed of particular significance for the entire Russian industry.

During the first phase, project office specialists migrated three key modules related to production, sales, and product costing at Apatit JSC to Global ERP. This work was completed by the end of last year, and the system was officially accepted for pilot operation at the enterprise on January 1, 2026.

"For three months—until the end of March—we'll be monitoring all system parameters, fine-tuning them, collecting user feedback, and providing enhanced technical support. The system will then be handed over to the customer and accepted for production operation," said Andrey Nisanov, Director of the Project Office Department of the IT Directorate at Apatit JSC. "At the same time, my team and I are working on implementing other important modules, expanding the system's functionality and capabilities. Our ultimate goal is to completely transition away from the Oracle system."

The new system's effectiveness is clearly demonstrated by the statistical data. While monthly product cost calculations previously took at least eight hours, using the domestic solution, January's calculation took about one hour. According to the project office's specialists, the system will continue to be actively modernized and developed. Global ERP's functionality has already been expanded through the use of artificial intelligence technologies. The built-in AI assistant can instantly read the entire user manual and technical regulations, providing a simple and understandable answer to even the most complex user question. The AI functionality used in this system is planned to be significantly expanded in the future.

Information security was also a key focus during the system's development. All necessary computing power, control stations, and data storage servers are located within the company's perimeter, virtually eliminating the possibility of unauthorized access by third parties.

"Current versions of Oracle rely on cloud technologies, which puts system users in an even more vulnerable position. With a single click, the platform owner can effectively paralyze the system. Therefore, I believe that we have begun developing our own software at the right time, and the decision to transition is strategically sound and justified. This is why PhosAgro is viewed with hope and anticipation not only by our partners in the agrochemical sector, but also by representatives of other sectors of the Russian economy. As a leader in system development and implementation, we are paving the way for many other companies," said Denis Novikov, CEO of Apatit JSC.

"For us as a vendor, the transition of such a large industrial customer from Oracle to Global ERP is a landmark import substitution project, confirming the maturity of a domestic enterprise-level digital product and its readiness for implementation at major manufacturing companies. Importantly, our experience working with PhosAgro allows us to accelerate platform development, scale best practices, and offer the market a reliable Russian ERP solution that meets the challenges of digital transformation and technological independence," noted Alexander Russkikh, Technical Director of Global ERP.

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Kirovsk (Murmansk Oblast). On March 2, 2026, the "Ahead of Time" physical education and training festival was held in Kirovsk. It was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the DROZD-Khibiny center and the quarter-century anniversary of PhosAgro. Participants in the program from the Murmansk, Vologda, Leningrad, and Saratov Oblasts participated in the festival.

The "Children of Russia – Education, Health, and Spirituality" (DROZD) program is PhosAgro's key social project. Today, DROZD unites more than 8,500 children in four regions where PhosAgro operates, participating in 84 sports clubs across 31 sports, as well as creative studios and supplementary education classes. In 2025, the program was expanded to the Kaliningrad, Voronezh, Volgograd, Tambov, and Oryol regions.

In 2001, it was in the Arctic cities of Kirovsk and Apatity that PhosAgro initiated the opening of the first sports sections of the "DROZD" program. Building on best Soviet practices, including the experience of the unique Moscow school "Sambo-70," the "Children of Russia – Education, Health, and Spirituality" project set broader goals: raising an educated, intellectually, spiritually, and physically developed younger generation—patriots of their homeland. Over the past quarter century, more than 100,000 young men and women have graduated from the "DROZD" school. PhosAgro's investment in the project has exceeded 2.5 billion rubles.

In anticipation of the 25th anniversary of the DROZD-Khibiny Center, major renovations were completed in two judo halls at Apatity Comprehensive School No. 5. PhosAgro financed the renovation of the roof, entrance, and recreation areas. Heating and ventilation systems were reinstalled, restrooms were renovated, and showers were installed in the locker rooms. In addition, new sports equipment was purchased, including wall bars, pegboards, and exercise machines, as well as new furniture for the locker rooms and coaches' room.

The opening of the renovated spaces was the first event of the "Ahead of Time" physical education and training festival. The ceremony was attended by PhosAgro CEO Alexander Gilgenberg, Murmansk Regional Duma deputy Alexey Gilyarov, who headed School No. 5 in 2001, Apatity administration officials, and representatives of the city council.

"I'm proud of the heights we've reached today, together with PhosAgro and DROZD. These walls remember training with renowned athletes and Olympic champions: Sergei Novikov, Dmitry Nosov, and Andrey Tsyupachenko. And I'm delighted that for the DROZD-Khibiny center's anniversary, these halls, historical for me and many of our judo alumni, have been renovated. I see how DROZD is alive and well, how many kids are stepping onto the tatami, forging their athletic character, and training their body and spirit," said Alexey Gilyarov, deputy of the Murmansk Regional Duma and chairman of the Education and Science Committee, in his speech.

Honored coach of Russia and president of the St. Petersburg Judo Federation Mikhail Rakhlin, as well as vice-president of the St. Petersburg Judo Federation and Olympic champion Tagir Khaibulaev, were guests of honor at the ceremony.

"You are destined for success because PhosAgro, the DROZD program, your parents, and the best coaches are by your side, ready to guide you into the world of elite sport. All success stories begin in gyms like these. Tagir Khaibulaev took his first steps toward the Olympic podium in a similar gym. Having the opportunity to play sport is a great blessing. And doing it in such wonderful conditions is doubly so," said Mikhail Rakhlin, President of the St. Petersburg Judo Federation, addressing the students of the Apatity judo section.

The festival's grand opening took place in Kirovsk. Andrey Guryev, President of the Russian Fertilizer Producers Association and Chairman of the Drozd Program Coordinating Council, sent a video greeting to the participants.

"Over the two decades of its history, DROZD has helped tens of thousands of young people become stronger and smarter, finding their path in life. And I want to thank our wonderful coaches and teachers. They invest a piece of their soul in children every day. This is invaluable. DROZD has many friends, and we value them very much. These include the legendary Sambo-70 school, whose example has inspired us, the regional and federal authorities who always support us, and many great athletes and coaches. I congratulate them all on the anniversary of the Khibiny branch of DROZD," said Andrey Guryev.

Murmansk Region Governor Andrey Chibis also addressed warm words to the Drozd-Khibiny Center and PhosAgro.

"It's important that both the company's shareholders and management are very attentive to everything related to people, paying special attention to children. Everything related to health, education, spiritual and moral values—all of this is embedded in the DROZD program. And it's clear that this work has proven its effectiveness over a quarter of a century," the regional governor noted in a video greeting.

"The Drozd program is essentially an entire system for nurturing citizens of our country, and we are very proud of it," PhosAgro CEO Alexander Gilgenberg emphasized in his speech. "It's symbolic that this year marks not only Drozd's 25th anniversary, but also the PhosAgro Group's. And I would like to especially emphasize that this project and our other social initiatives are the hallmark of our company, the foundation of its philosophy."

The events of the "Ahead of Time" physical education and training festival lasted four days. During this time, the children participated in the sports and entertainment game "Big Races" and the team game "Constructor," participated in teambuilding sessions, attended a master class with Olympic medalist and multiple World and European figure skating champion Irina Slutskaya, and attended a meeting called "Conversations About What's Important" with the renowned athlete.

"In Kirovsk, DROZD and PhosAgro have created all the conditions for sports: modern gyms, a stunning ice rink, and many other facilities. But most importantly, I see the children, their sparkling eyes, their desire to grow and win," noted Irina Slutskaya.

The guest of honor at the festival's closing ceremony was renowned gymnast and two-time Olympic champion Svetlana Khorkina.

"A huge family has gathered here: children, coaches, and teachers. And I am sincerely grateful to PhosAgro for its generous spirit, responsible social policy, and support of sports," Svetlana Khorkina addressed the participants of the sports festival.

On the festival's final day, the children explored the Khibiny mountain tourism cluster and the sights of Kirovsk: the Bolshevik Cultural Center, the Apatit Museum and Exhibition Center, and the Mysterious Forest Art Park. Four days of socializing, sports, and new discoveries provided all festival participants with unforgettable experiences, vibrant emotions, and new friends.

"I really enjoyed it. I'm thrilled with Kirovsk, the mountains, and meeting famous athletes. Thank you to DROZD for this festival and for the new friends it made," says Alina Sutugina, a student at the DROZD-Balakovo center.

"Everything was perfectly organized; we barely had any free time—games, activities, workshops, discos—every day! I didn't want this festival to end, and I'll remember it fondly," shared Maxim Ivanov, a student at the DROZD-Volkhov center.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Phosagro – Phosagro – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Moscow. February 26, 2026. Denis Novikov, CEO of Apatit JSC (part of the PhosAgro Group), discussed PhosAgro's best practices in developing its own artificial intelligence infrastructure at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs' Russian Business Week Digital Forum.

The discussion was attended by the President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) Alexander Shokhin, Co-Chair of the RSPP Coordination Council for Technological Leadership and Industrial Policy, First Deputy General Director of the non-governmental development institute Innopraktika Natalia Popova, Chair of the RSPP Electric Power Commission, General Director of RUSENERGOSBYT LLC Mikhail Andronov, Commercial Director of YADRO (part of ICS Holding) Alexander Bakulin, General Director of BASIS LLC David Martirosov, Senior Managing Director – Director of the Infrastructure Solutions Department of Sberbank PJSC Karen Karapetyan, and Director of the Federal State Autonomous Institution Digital Industrial Technologies Eduard Shantayev.

In his opening remarks, RSPP President Alexander Shokhin noted that artificial intelligence is changing the economy and social sphere faster than institutions, from education to the labor market, can adapt. He added that just five to seven years ago, it was difficult to imagine the scale of AI's penetration into the economy and everyday life.

"We're not yet fully prepared for all the challenges we're already facing and will face in the coming years. Currently, personnel needs are forecasted for seven years based on current trends, but it's truly difficult to estimate the scale of AI penetration in the future. Therefore, we need to make our personnel training system as flexible as possible to enable rapid adaptation," the RSPP president stated.

Alexander Shokhin also outlined the infrastructure constraints that are currently determining the development of AI. These include, first and foremost, the growing demand for electricity and the need to expand data center capacity. He noted the discussion about the possible shift of generation and data center infrastructure to the Urals and Siberia, noting that such decisions require consideration of technological and network limitations, as well as an economic model, as data center investments must be cost-effective and recoup their costs.

The forum was moderated by Mikhail Oseevsky, a member of the RSPP Board of Directors, co-chair of the RSPP Coordination Council on Digitalization, Chairman of the RSPP Committee on Digital Economy, and President of PJSC Rostelecom. He added that artificial intelligence is becoming one of the main consumers of electricity worldwide, so Russia also needs to consider building specialized data centers for AI and ensuring their reliable power supply. He noted that the forecasts for growing electricity demand under discussion reach tens of gigawatts. Even if some of these estimates are overstated, the scale of future needs remains extremely significant. He also noted the trend of placing AI infrastructure closer to the points of data generation and processing: "Infrastructure is gravitating toward the locations where information is generated and processed—toward megacities where large corporations are headquartered and consumers live, and this trend is likely to intensify."

Denis Novikov, CEO of Apatit JSC (part of the PhosAgro Group), discussed PhosAgro's best practices as it implements its own AI transformation strategy, actively integrating technology into key production, service, and corporate-wide business processes.

"We initially chose to build infrastructure and develop our own AI solutions. This ensures the complete security of commercial, production, and internal information, and also allows us to be independent of foreign software while accumulating our own data. This data is then used to further train large language models, making this work even more efficient," Denis Novikov emphasized.

According to the CEO, the company utilizes several AI-based technologies, including machine learning, video analytics, and generative artificial intelligence. Large language models are deployed within the company's internal IT infrastructure, including Sber's flagship domestic model, GigaChat Max. This already allows for resource savings, increased efficiency and productivity, and enhanced employee safety.

PhosAgro's computing capacity is concentrated in two of its own data centers—in Kirovsk and Cherepovets. A third data center is being built in Volkhov in collaboration with Rostelecom. A key advantage of this approach is flexibility: the modular architecture of the data centers allows for capacity expansion in line with PhosAgro's growing digital needs. Furthermore, virtually all of the company's production sites use on-site electricity, which also meets the needs of the data centers.

"Our goal is to make AI a core technology for all employees and integrate it into all business processes. We are integrating AI solutions, from predictive analytics to AI agents, into all import-substituting information systems," noted Denis Novikov. "Our company's successes are being watched with interest not only by our colleagues in the agrochemical industry but also by representatives from other sectors of the economy. I am confident that through close collaboration and partnership, which is developing at the RSPP sites and within industrial competence centers, we will be able to more quickly scale such solutions and reduce development costs."

Summing up the discussion, forum participants agreed on the need for cooperation among leading technology players to achieve synergies, as well as the formation of a constructive alliance between equipment manufacturers and software developers that will accelerate compatibility and the commercialization of digital solutions.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.