During a working meeting in Shklov on modern approaches to regional development, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced plans to increase production of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers in Belarus, and based on them, produce complex fertilizers that are in demand on the markets. Director Dmitry Chernyakov told the BELTA correspondent how the company is ready to carry out the stated task at the JSC “Gomel Chemical Plant”.

The manager emphasized that the enterprise has developed an investment program with a development concept up to 2030. The core of the strategy is a phased reorientation toward the production of complex fertilizers.

One of the important steps in this direction is the production of water‑soluble fertilizers. “The government has set a task to complete the construction of a water‑soluble fertilizer production plant within the shortest possible time—two years. The new production will allow us to produce up to 50,000 tonnes of monoammonium phosphate or 30,000 tonnes of monoammonium phosphate and 10,000 tonnes of monopotassium phosphate per year. These are modern, 100 % water‑soluble fertilizers that are quickly absorbed by plants. Such fertilizers are in demand in agriculture. They are used both in greenhouse operations and in open fields under dry conditions,” explained Dmitry Chernyakov.

The manager noted that demand for such fertilizers is growing worldwide every year. “These fertilizers are premium and have a future,” he is convinced.

The estimated cost of the project is $40 million. A site has been prepared for the new production. “We are starting to pour the foundation. We are also purchasing equipment—we have already carried out almost all the competitive procedures and identified the manufacturers. We expect that by the middle of next year the equipment will start arriving on site. During that time we intend to build the production building,” the director outlined his plans.

The anticipated market for the new fertilizers of the Gomel Chemical Plant is quite broad. “First and foremost we will supply Belarusian agricultural producers, taking into account that greenhouse farming is developing in the country. The rest we are ready to export—from the Russian Federation to Latin American countries. India is very interested. We have already held negotiations, and India is ready to take a large volume of products,” the manager outlined the geography of the planned supplies.

At the new production facility, technologies and approaches developed in collaboration with one of the leading Russian companies, the world's largest fertilizer producer, will be implemented.

Another step in the development strategy of the Gomel Chemical Plant is the large-scale reconstruction of the sulfuric acid workshop. "This project is among the 25 most important projects in the country. Its implementation will allow us to increase the production of sulfuric acid, which is one of the key links in the production of fertilizers, from 700,000 tons to 1 million tons per year," the head noted. This will make it possible to fully provide sulfuric acid to both the enterprise itself and the entire domestic market, i.e., all industrial consumers of sulfuric acid, he clarified.

In addition, after the reconstruction of this workshop is completed, the Gomel Chemical Plant will be able to provide itself with its own electricity by 80% - currently, this figure has reached 50%.

The director also drew attention to the fact that the reconstruction of the workshop is being carried out in stages. "The uniqueness of this project lies in the fact that the work is being done on existing areas without building in an open field and without stopping production. We are gradually replacing individual units and apparatuses," Dmitry Chernyakov emphasized.

According to him, the cost of the project is approximately 300 million rubles. "We plan to implement it by 2030. The first stage of construction is already underway. Equipment has been purchased for the first and second stages. The main suppliers are Chinese manufacturers. The equipment is being installed," the director noted.

In total, the Gomel Chemical Plant has developed around 100 brands of fertilizers. "Our capacities allow us to produce one million tons of fertilizers per year. We are able to fully provide for the domestic market and work on external markets. Incidentally, this year we have opened up markets in Mexico and Paraguay. We have signed a contract to supply nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers to Turkey - previously, we only offered nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizers to this country," Dmitry Chernyakov stressed.