Lukashenko wants facilities to make mixed fertilizers built faster

MINSK, 7 December (BelTA) – Belarus’ capacity to make and export mineral fertilizers should be utilized as much as possible, the press service of the Belarusian head of state quoted Alexander Lukashenko as saying at the government session held on 7 December to discuss the export sales of potash fertilizers.

Alexander Lukashenko said: “I am told that markets allegedly overflow, prices are plummeting, and manufacturers are reducing their output. I don’t know about other manufacturers but the Belarusian one is definitely reducing the output despite the sizeable reserves of the manufacturing capacity”.

The head of state remarked he wanted to discuss the fundamental matter of the extraction of potash fertilizers in Belarus as well as the production of phosphorous and nitrogen fertilizers. “We have talked a lot about the production of compound fertilizers. Tell me about the progress. Selling fertilizers is good but it is even better to sell mixed fertilizers or compound ones. It means totally different prices and a different kind of business,” said the President. “We have been talking about it for a long time and the government once again has these plans on some dusty shelf,” said the head of state. Alexander Lukashenko said he wanted reports regarding the state of affairs in the construction of the enterprises to mix potash, nitrogen, and phosphorous fertilizers. The head of state was also interested in how Belarusian Potash Company was doing, in how well the production and sales of fertilizers were going.

“I would like to hear about the state of affairs on the potash market, relations with our key Russian partners. I’d like to know whether an agreement has been reached and if it has, what you are going to do in the future,” said the President. Alexander Lukashenko stressed: “I would like to warn you against cut and dried statements that I know so well. I need concrete proposals.''

At the session the head of state gave several instructions. He once again pointed out that the facilities to make mixed fertilizers (NPK) should be built as fast as possible and this highly sought merchandise should be pushed onto the global market.