Business news

ASHGABAT, 26 March (BelTA) – The construction of the Garlyk mining and processing factory proceeds in accordance with the adjusted schedule. The statement was made by Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich as he visited the construction site and was made familiar with the progress in implementing the largest Belarusian-Turkmen project during his working trip to Turkmenistan, BelTA has learned.

Mikhail Myasnikovich remarked that $570 million of the $1 billion estimated cost has been spent already. “The first potash ore may be mined at the end of the year,” he said.

About 1,800 people are employed at the construction site, including some 200 Belarusian specialists. The other people are Turkmen engineers and workers. “Foreign companies that specialize in installing plant and equipment are already taking an active part,” said Mikhail Myasnikovich. “The facility is unique because it concentrates the newest technical and technological solutions.”

During his meeting with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Mikhail Myasnikovich discussed the progress in building the mining and processing factory. The head of the upper chamber of the Belarus parliament said: “We try to honor our commitments but sometimes certain issues arise that top officials, top government agencies have to deal with via critical decisions. The president of Turkmenistan backed our proposals. Moreover, he set new goals: the Garlyk mining and processing enterprise, which is designed to make modern quality mineral fertilizers, will have to become the foundation for the future chemical industry via the establishment of additional factories that will make products based on potash salts”.

In January 2010 the Belarusian company OAO Belgorhimprom signed a contract with the state concern Turkmenhimiya for the turn-key construction of the Garlyk mining and processing factory by Belarusian specialists. The factory is designed to make 1.4 million tonnes of potash fertilizers using the Garlyk minefield of potash salts in Lebap Oblast, Turkmenistan. The main work began in 2012.