August 13, 2012
Foreign investors set to mine Belarusian fertilisers
As soon as a package of offers from investors is available, international tenders to choose concessioners to extract Belarusian natural resources will be held.
The Belarusian Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Minister Vladimir Tsalko reminded that there are plans to offer concession rights to the clay deposit Golbitsa in Postavy District, Vitebsk Oblast, the sand and gravel deposit Ulesye in Dokshitsy District, Vitebsk Oblast, the chalk deposit Dobrushkoye, Dobrush District, Gomel Oblast, the clay deposit Kuropolye in Postavy District, Vitebsk Oblast, the sand and gravel deposit Perenosinskoye in Baranovichi District, Brest Oblast.
A concession will be offered to mine the oil shale deposit Turovskoye, which is located in the eastern part of Stolin District, Brest Oblast and the southern part of Zhitkovichi District, Gomel Oblast. Initially the tenders were to have been held by late June- mid-July 2012, however, they have been shelved for now.
Vladimir Tsalko pointed out the strong interest of foreign investors in the development of Belarusian deposits, in particular, interest from China and India. These investors are eyeing certain deposits, including potash fertilisers, ferrous ore, and gypsum.
Proposals to mine ballast quarries have been received. Many delegations have visited Belarus already and have received the necessary information, said Vladimir Tsalko.
The Minister added they have not received final responses yet. The investors may need some time to calculate all things, find financing means, because the money involved is huge, he explained.