MINSK, 28 February (BelTA) – The Belarusian fertilizer manufacturer OAO Belaruskali plans to commission a new chemical factory in September 2014 for the sake of enabling the advanced processing of chlorine-containing mineral raw materials, BelTA learned from Alexander Lyugoshchenko, Deputy Chief Engineer of the company, at the roundtable session held on 28 February to discuss results and prospects of innovation efforts in Belarus, BelTA has learned.

“The project follows the schedule approved by the prime minister. In September we are supposed to carry out startup operations,” specified Alexander Lyugoshchenko. The chemical factory is located at the industrial site of the fourth mine group. The factory will manufacture import-substituting products — potassium hydroxide, potassium hypochlorite, and hydrochloric acid. “I am confident that the results will be positive because scientists and manufacturers are working together,” said the company’s Deputy Chief Engineer.

In turn, Belaruskali will use the products made by the new chemical factory to make, for instance, water-soluble fertilizers for greenhouses. “They are not available in Belarus at present while the demand is strong. So Belarusian science could be useful here,” added Alexander Lyugoshchenko.

The specialist also said that the nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) fertilizers factory, which turned out 10,000 tonnes of merchandise in January, is another example of successful cooperation with Belarusian scientists. The entire process flow was developed for Belaruskali by the General and Inorganic Chemistry Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

“Enterprises cannot move on these days without improving their manufacturing processes. In order to achieve results from science, we have to invest in science and we do just that,” explained Alexander Lyugoshchenko.

In 2009-2013 Belaruskali signed Br100 billion worth of contracts for R&D services to receive Br290 billion as payback. The company financed the services using its own funds and innovation fund money.