KRASNOYARSK, April 5 - RAPSI. The Third Commercial Court of Appeals has registered the appeal by the Krasnoyarsk Territory's administration against the territorial commercial court's judgment quashing its ban on a ferroalloy plant project.

The ban was recognized as invalid by the Krasnoyarsk Territory Commercial Court. The appellate court accepted the appeal for consideration on April 4.

The court has yet to schedule the hearing date. According to its website, the appeal will not be handled until a trial court considers the lawsuit filed by the ChEK.SU-VK mining and metallurgical company to fine the officials for the failure to abide by court orders.

In particular, project investors want the court to impose a 100,000 rubles ($3,400) fine on the district's Land Ownership and Architectural Department and an equal fine on the local administration. In addition, they seek to fine the department head and the acting administration head 5,000 rubles ($170) each.

The lawsuit will be heard on April 19.

Krasnoyarsk residents held several large protests last autumn against the plant construction. They feared the new facility could damage the environment. The protesters collected over 150,000 signatures against the construction. The local authorities finally decided to suspend the project and to hold public consultations in February 2012.
ChEK.SU-VK is based in the Kemerovo Region. It explores the Usinskoye manganese ore deposit. The deposit is considered to be one of the largest in Russia, with proven reserves amounting to 98.5 million metric tons.