A new high‑technology construction materials plant has opened in Mogilev. In the Mogilev Free Economic Zone, with the support of the Development Bank, the company “Basaltum” was launched, producing basalt insulation. The plant’s distinctive feature is its own wind park of 11 turbines, which supplies its electricity.

The project became part of the state import‑substitution program. Previously, Belarus faced a shortage of mineral wool insulation, so a large portion of such products had to be purchased abroad. The new enterprise is intended to strengthen the position of domestic manufacturers in the construction market.

110 jobs and 400,000 cubic metres of product per year

The production was housed in a partially built building erected in the 1990s. It was extensively renovated, the necessary rooms were completed, and sites were prepared for installing the technological equipment.

The project was implemented in about two years. Its financing involved the company’s own funds and the Development Bank’s resources.

The launch of production created 110 new jobs. The plant is capable of producing up to 400,000 cubic metres of insulation per year.

According to Basaltum’s director Vitaly Ponomarenko, the daily output ranges from 100 to 150 tonnes of finished product, or roughly 1,000 to 2,000 cubic metres.

The range includes insulation of various densities—from 35 to 190 kilograms per cubic metre—allowing the material to be used in private and low‑rise construction as well as in the erection of industrial facilities.

How is insulation made from stone?

The core of production is basalt—a volcanic rock. The technology involves melting it at temperatures around 1,500 degrees.

The resulting melt is fed into specialized equipment where it is turned into fine fibres. The material is then formed into sheets, treated with a binder, subjected to thermal processing, and cut into panels of the required dimensions.

The main raw materials—basalt ore and casting coke—are supplied by Russia. Dolomite is purchased in Belarus.

The finished product undergoes laboratory testing. Specialists check density, strength, thermal conductivity, water absorption, and other physical‑mechanical characteristics. About ten parameters are monitored in total.

The plant uses wind energy

One of the most interesting features of the Mogilev plant is its own energy infrastructure. To supply the factory with electricity, a wind park comprising 11 turbines has been built.

According to the plant's calculations, the energy they generate is sufficient to meet the factory's needs. This allows them to reduce electricity costs and the cost of goods produced.

Special attention was given to environmental safety. Because the plant is located in the city, modern gas‑cleaning equipment has been installed on the production line, including desulfurization, combustion, and filtration systems.

Mogilev insulation is planned to be supplied for export.

In the first stage, the enterprise focused on the Belarusian market. Within a year of operation, the plant mastered the production of the required assortment and established supplies to domestic consumers.

The next step is to expand the sales geography. The company plans to enter the Russian market and participate in specialized construction exhibitions in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Thus, in Mogilev a new construction material plant has emerged, but it is more than that—a major industrial project that combines import substitution, modern technologies, and the use of renewable energy sources.

The material was prepared based on information from the Mogilev City Executive Committee.