BREST, 23 June (BelTA) - Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko promised to declare a local referendum on the future of the battery factory in Brest. The president made the promise as he talked to the residents of the regional center on 22 June, BelTA has learned.
“We have made a decision. Let the people decide. With regard to the battery plant you will decide its future. I guarantee it to you and I promise it. I will take a neutral position, organize a referendum. You will take the reins into your hands, and you will do it in a clam way. We will designate a place, you will call people, debate, as in the elections,” said the head of state.
“The biggest environmental supporter that you have is the president of Belarus. These things are very important for me. As president, I care for every tree," the Belarusian leader added.
Among the participants of the meeting was local eco-activist Dmitry Bekalyuk. He supported the proposal of the head of state to hold a referendum. “If, as you said, this referendum takes place, Brest residents will only be grateful,” he said.
“Please, rest assured about that. It is the direct powers of the president to organize a referendum anywhere in the country," the Belarusian leader replied.
Aleksandr Lukashenko promised to visit the battery plant. “I will definitely go visit this plant," he assured.
The head of state stressed that it is very important for him to see what decision Brest residents will make. At the same time, he assured that he has a completely neutral position. On the one hand, the plant is needed, there are markets for its products. Moreover, this means substituting imports, which is one of the main areas of work in the country in the next five years. “Maybe they will come up with new batteries for electric vehicles that I am rooting for. And I want you to venture into this. The whole world is already moving towards this,” the head of state suggested.
On the other hand, if people decide that the plant is not needed or it should be moved somewhere, then, according to Aleksandr Lukashenko, it will not be a disaster. “Most likely, we will find some place for it, study how this plant can go greener, what kind of equipment it can use," he said.
As for the referendum, the president promised that everything will be done absolutely openly and transparently.
Aleksandr Lukashenko proposed to hold the local referendum after the presidential election. “We will do it after the election. We will collect the harvest, and then we will get down to it. I will be happy to credit a few points for myself for making the proposal to hold the referendum in Brest. As people decide, so it will be. Most likely, if the owners do not explain what is happening there, people will vote to relocate it. It will be very difficult to move this plant somewhere in compact Belarus. Most likely, it will have to be closed down, but maybe we will find some place for it," the Belarusian leader concluded.
Other participants of the meeting, where representatives of the Brest opposition were present, also supported the decision.
In general, the conversation turned out to be very constructive. The head of state was asked to take several memorable selfies and photos.
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As it has been reported, the battery plant was built in the free economic zone Brest. Part of the funds for the project - Br5.7 million - was allocated from the regional innovation fund. According to the terms of the contract, the plant was to be put into operation by 31 July 2019. However, it did not pass the state environmental examination. As the plant never went operational, the regional executive committee demanded to return the money. In February 2020, the economic court of Brest Oblast ordered that OOO iPower return the money it got from the innovation fund. The company must also reimburse Br57,200 to the national budget in state duties. As for the plant, it has recently changed owners and is now called OOO Battery Alliance.
The head of state already spoke about the construction of the battery plant during a visit to Brest in September 2019, noting that he kept the situation under control and shared people's environmental concerns. At the same time, he urged not to politicize the problem. “Someone wants to earn political points urging to change the authorities because the plant is bad. I want wise, educated, intelligent Brest residents to understand that they will use any excuse to get into power,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said at that time. “The current government will deal with the problem. We will solve it the way the Brest people need it.”
