The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. An archive photo
MINSK, 19 April (BelTA) – The Council for Strategic Projects has reviewed the state and the development of Belarus’ stock of minerals and raw materials, the press service of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) told BelTA.
A session of the Council for Strategic Projects under the President of the Republic of Belarus took place at premises of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. The state and the development of the country’s mineral resources base was the key item on the agenda. Representatives of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry, the Architecture and Construction Ministry, the Energy Ministry, the Academy of Sciences, the Education Ministry, the Economy Ministry, and the State Property Committee took part in the session.
Chairman of the Council for Strategic Projects Vladimir Gusakov reminded that these matters were discussed at the government conference hosted by the head of state on 12 March. The president gave instructions in favor of intensive and effective exploitation of deposits, extraction, and processing of extractable resources, in favor of stepping up geological prospecting work, including with regard to hydrocarbon raw materials. In accordance with the protocol of the president’s instructions the Council for Strategic Projects is supposed to discuss these matters.
Vladimir Gusakov said: “All-round, systemic discussion in detail is the idea. Not only matters concerning the availability, surveying, and extraction but also practical application of mineral resources for the sake of development of the national economy as a whole. Our country does not possess abundant supplies of resources, this is why the task of using them fully and rationally has never been more topical. And this task is being accomplished through hard work of the personnel and intellectual potential. We should arrange kind of a brainstorm, identify the most topical problems and reserves. The key is to justify and submit balanced and pinpoint decisions, practical measures and mechanisms for consideration of the head of state. If necessary, we will have to submit proposals on correcting and improving the legislation, standards, technical requirements and things like that.”
A number of topical problems were discussed during the Council for Strategic Projects session. Those included the state of the stock of strategic mineral resources, existing problems and ways of addressing them, the state of the stock of hydrocarbon raw materials available to the Belarusian industrial group Belorusneft, problems and prospects of development, issues encountered in the operation of mining enterprises affiliated with the Architecture and Construction Ministry and measures to deal with these issues, prospects of development of the peat industry and the creation of import-substituting manufacturing facilities based on peat. Participants of the session also discussed problems and prospects of using peat, sapropels, hydromineral resources, problems and prospects of training personnel for geological prospecting work, extraction and processing of mineral resources and raw materials, problems encountered during the withdrawal and allocation of land plots for mining operations and for building the facilities needed for processing and storing minerals. Areas in need of investments and measures to stimulate projects designed to extract mineral resources and raw materials were also mentioned.
The press service of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus noted that heads of ministries, government agencies, and scientific organizations not only evaluated the state of affairs but came up with concrete proposals on dealing with the raised problems. Instructions were given to polish the materials taking into account the remarks made during the session and submit them to the Council for Strategic Projects for generalization.
