Lukashenko outlined main mining-related problems in Belarus
Approaches to mining should be reviewed in the country – as stated by the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, during today’s meeting on the state and development of the mineral resource base in the country, as well as the expansion of geological exploration, including with regard to hydrocarbon raw materials
The Head of State noted that mining is carried out throughout the territory of Belarus, but – as reported by the regulatory authorities – violations are quite often registered during the exploitation and reclamation of quarries, “They see the reasons in the insufficient interaction of mineral developers and local authorities. There are endless finalisation and approval procedures, necessary and unnecessary inspections, and red-tape – but the sector suffers amidst this. With this in mind, I have ordered to invite all the governors to the meeting today, so that no one has any more questions about how to work further.”
The Belarusian leader voiced figures of the use of production capacities in the extraction of domestic raw materials in 2018-2023 provided by the Government: glass and moulding sands – 39 percent, refractory clays – 47 percent, chalk, marl, clay and rotten-stone for cement – 53 percent, dolomite – 38 percent, and facing stone – 44 percent. Meanwhile, Aleksandr Lukashenko is convinced that there could be 100 percent for almost every position, but the work is being done not at full capacity. Despite a sufficient raw material base, the country imported almost 300 thousand tonnes of pebbles, gravel and crushed stone in 2023, paying $18m+. In addition, almost $5m was spent to purchase 50,000 tonnes of natural sands.
The Head of State is rightly outraged by this approach. “These are huge sums,” he said. “Prices for minerals are rising from year to year, while we – instead of intensifying our activity and using the assets that we have literally under our feet – are paying out meekly.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko gave a specific example: white clay (kaolin) – used to produce tiles domestically – was previously imported from Ukraine. It is now bought from Russia, although there are its deposits in Belarus’ Luninets and Stolin districts.
