DZERZHINSK, 13 June (BelTA) – Belarus can invite Russia to implement an integration project at Grodno Azot, Belarus' Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko said at the solemn presentation of Amkodor-Semash Holding Company on 13 June, BelTA has learned.
“By the end of year, we should put forward three integration projects each. We already have certain proposals, for example, concerning Grodno Azot. An integration project can be implemented there because the enterprise has started a new investment cycle,” the vice premier explained.
According to Vladimir Semashko, the previous investment cycle at Grodno Azot was a success. “It required almost $0.5 billion worth of investment, and the enterprise is rather successful now. They had goof profitability and revenues in Q1. But they start a new cycle, and they need to find and invest $1.2 billion to build, in fact, a new plant which will work with other technical and economic parameters. They will reduce energy consumption by 30%, and the consumption of initial raw materials (gas) by 20%. We are looking for a partner and do not conceal that we can work with a Russian partner, the owner of this gas,” he said.
The vice premier remarked that the parties can implement joint projects in machine building, petrochemistry, the oil and gas sector. “We would like the Russian side to invite us to work at an oil and gas deposit. There is a precedent: Belorusneft won a tended in Russia two years ago, became the owner of a small deposits and extracts oil there. The amount of oil is not big. The company extracts about 110,000 tonnes of oil every six months, but the precedent has been created. Apart from that, Belorusneft has a service company in Siberia with 2,500 Belarusian employees on shift work. The company also applies new technologies. We have a good technical level and competent specialists. And we are ready to work there,” he stressed.
Vladimir Semashko reminded that the decision that Belarus and Russia will put forward three integration projects each by the end of the year was fixed in a protocol as of 13 April. “I call it a roadmap of Semashko and Dvorkovich. It includes 14 provisions and the last one reads that the sides should determine integration projects. These projects should be mutually beneficial. And if it happens, the projects will be implemented,” he concluded.
