Belarus invites Gazprom to upgrade Grodno Azot
<p> MINSK, Mar 2 - PrimePress. Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has suggested Russian gas giant Gazprom should take part in modernizing nitrogen fertilizer producer Grodno Azot, newswire Belta reported on Tuesday. </p> <p> </p> <p> "The only suggestion of the Belarusian side in the financial sphere concerned a possible participation of Gazprom in the upgrade of Grodno Azot. They might be interested in that. If they are not, we will build the plant on our own," Lukashenko said at a meeting, referring to his recent negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. </p> <p> </p> <p> As previously reported, in 2014 the Belarusian government put up for sale a block of shares in Grodno Azot, with the following terms and conditions to be fulfilled by a potential investor: an initial payment of $414 million, investment of another $1.6-1.8 billion and an additional payment of at least $440 million to gain control of the plant. The potential investor also had to supply 2 billion cubic metres of gas annually to the mill. Gazprom abandoned the project because it believed the asset was overvalued. </p> <p> </p> <p> A new nitrogen complex is planned to be built at the plant by 2025, which will double the plant's urea production capacity. The project is estimated at €1.3 billion. Earlier, Belarusian officials said they would provide this financing from the enterprises' own funds and credit resources. </p> <p> </p> <p> Lukashenko also denied media reports that Minsk was asking for loans or financial incentives during the negotiations. </p> <p> </p> <p> He said that during the talks "the issue of our cooperation was analyzed very seriously”. In particular, the Belarusian side offered its Russian partners to provide maintenance to Russian-made aircraft at OJSC Minsk Civil Aviation Plant No. 407 and produce some units and components there. </p> <p> </p> <p> Lukashenko said he is ready for closer cooperation in the military-industrial complex, "including Integral, aircraft and armoured vehicles. "Our factories are in demand there. Let's cooperate, I say. The President of Russia said that they are very interested in it. That is why the government, the State Secretariat (Security Council – editor’s note) and the Defence Ministry should be more active in this direction," he said. </p> <p> </p> <p> As previously reported, in 2012 Belarus and Russia agreed on five integration projects, including joint ventures of Grodno Azot with Gazprom, Peleng with Roscosmos, Integral with Roselectronics, MAZ with KamAZ, MZKT with Rostekhnologii. Negotiations to implement these projects went on for several years without any results. End </p>
2021-03-03
Primepress
Belarus invites Gazprom to upgrade Grodno Azot
MINSK, Mar 2 - PrimePress. Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has suggested Russian gas giant Gazprom should take part in modernizing nitrogen fertilizer producer Grodno Azot, newswire Belta reported on Tuesday.
"The only suggestion of the Belarusian side in the financial sphere concerned a possible participation of Gazprom in the upgrade of Grodno Azot. They might be interested in that. If they are not, we will build the plant on our own," Lukashenko said at a meeting, referring to his recent negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
As previously reported, in 2014 the Belarusian government put up for sale a block of shares in Grodno Azot, with the following terms and conditions to be fulfilled by a potential investor: an initial payment of $414 million, investment of another $1.6-1.8 billion and an additional payment of at least $440 million to gain control of the plant. The potential investor also had to supply 2 billion cubic metres of gas annually to the mill. Gazprom abandoned the project because it believed the asset was overvalued.
A new nitrogen complex is planned to be built at the plant by 2025, which will double the plant's urea production capacity. The project is estimated at €1.3 billion. Earlier, Belarusian officials said they would provide this financing from the enterprises' own funds and credit resources.
Lukashenko also denied media reports that Minsk was asking for loans or financial incentives during the negotiations.
He said that during the talks "the issue of our cooperation was analyzed very seriously”. In particular, the Belarusian side offered its Russian partners to provide maintenance to Russian-made aircraft at OJSC Minsk Civil Aviation Plant No. 407 and produce some units and components there.
Lukashenko said he is ready for closer cooperation in the military-industrial complex, "including Integral, aircraft and armoured vehicles. "Our factories are in demand there. Let's cooperate, I say. The President of Russia said that they are very interested in it. That is why the government, the State Secretariat (Security Council – editor’s note) and the Defence Ministry should be more active in this direction," he said.
As previously reported, in 2012 Belarus and Russia agreed on five integration projects, including joint ventures of Grodno Azot with Gazprom, Peleng with Roscosmos, Integral with Roselectronics, MAZ with KamAZ, MZKT with Rostekhnologii. Negotiations to implement these projects went on for several years without any results. End