Mikron received orders for the production of 4 million chips for international passports

About 4 million chips for biometric passports were ordered from the Mikron microcircuit plant this year, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Vasily Shpak told reporters on the sidelines of the Digital Industry of Industrial Russia (CIPR) conference, writes TASS.

“Now Mikron has contracted 4 million chips for international passports, of which 1.5 million have already been produced,” Shpak cited the data.

The release of chips, according to the deputy minister, did not stop all this time, but Mikron could not satisfy all the demand due to lack of capacity, “plus certain problems associated with providing production with the necessary chemicals and raw materials were superimposed on this.” Now all issues have been resolved, the plant is operating normally “within the framework of contractual obligations of the existing schedules,” Shpak added.

From June 1 resumed acceptance of applications for the issuance of biometric passports (new sample for a period of 10 years). Goznak confirmed that the organization is ready to issue new passports. The application can be submitted through the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the MFC or the State Services.

Issuance of biometric passports suspended February 2, 2023 This decision was made due to technical difficulties at the Moscow printing factory of JSC Goznak. The Ministry of Industry and Trade explained the suspension by “adjusting technical processes to meet increased demand.” The department stressed that the production of chips for electronic passports in Russia was not suspended.

The new generation passport is biometric, it is valid for 10 years. On the cover page of the document there is a microchip with information about the owner and scans of his fingerprints.