3 October 2008
Alexander Lukashenko in favour of sodium carbonate plant construction in Belarus
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has set the task of working out a project for building a sodium carbonate manufacturing enterprise within half a year, BelTA learnt from the press service of the President of Belarus after a government session held by the head of state during his working trip to the Gomel oblast. During the discussion about prospects of the Belarusian glass making industry development it was stressed that glass manufacturers need sodium carbonate, which is imported so far. Alexander Lukashenko believes it is possible to set up a sodium carbonate enterprise in Belarus with assistance of Austrian company ATEC, which, according to the President, has approved itself on the Belarusian market: the company has invested $100 million into the national economy over six years. Despite the high capital intensity the project promises to become highly profitable. Specialists remarked, Belarus is an optimal place in Europe for placing a sodium carbonate manufacturing enterprise. The country will be able to satisfy the domestic demand for sodium carbonate and export a lot of it. It is also important that along with the glass industry sodium carbonate is used in many other industries and the demand for sodium carbonate grows every year across the globe. The session also touched upon improving the effectiveness of using waste glass. In many countries glass cullet is the feedstock for glass making industry thanks to its environmental friendliness and inexpensiveness. Alexander Lukashenko believes the matter should be closely examined by experts.БЕЛТА