Фото: пресс-служба Лукашенко
The Nezhin Mining and Processing Plant was not completed by the previously set deadline. There are problems with remedying defects, while planned production capacity targets have not been met. Aliaksandr Lukashenka said this at today’s meeting on the construction of the facility.
Nedra Nezhin OJSC has been producing goods since September 2025. During that time, it has produced 400,000 tonnes of potash fertilisers, some of which were exported. However, during a visit to the plant last year, it was stated that the capacity of the plant would reach 1.1 million tonnes per year by the end of 2025.
Aliaksandr Lukashenka said today that the commissioning of the first and second phases of construction had not been completed by the deadline of July 3. The government had committed to commissioning them by November 1.
“When do we expect to reach production of 1.1-1.2 million tonnes of mineral fertilisers?”, Lukashenka asked today.
According to him, there are also questions about the quality of the contractors’ work.
“I am being informed that there are issues regarding the quality of construction and installation work carried out by contractors, as well as the deadlines for remedying defects and addressing comments”, he continued.
The third and fourth phases of construction are scheduled to be completed by the end of next year, with production capacity expected to increase to 2 million tonnes of potash fertilisers per year.
“We need to ensure that the design targets are achieved, as they ultimately affect the economics of the enterprise — and not only the enterprise. The project is being built mainly with borrowed funds, and they must be repaid. In addition, once the new potash fertiliser production facility reaches full capacity, it will become a stable source of tax revenues and foreign currency earnings and will contribute to the development of the Liuban district of Minsk Region — this is essential, the district must receive its share of development”, Lukashenka said.
He proposed discussing the prospects for implementing the project and reaching the expected targets, an action plan for completing it on schedule, and possible proposals for the further development of the complex. Lukashenka also asked about the development of social and other infrastructure in the Liuban district.
First Deputy Prime Minister Mikalai Snapkou reported that the facilities of the first and second phases of the Nezhin Mining and Processing Plant had been commissioned and that its capacity was equivalent to the production of 1 million tonnes of fertilisers per year.
“This year, 500,000 tonnes. Next year, definitely 1 million tonnes. All acceptance certificates have been signed. The first and second phases have been commissioned. Supervisory authorities have issued approvals for all commissioning complexes”, Snapkou said.
He added that certain types of work still needed to be completed, including thermal insulation of some process pipelines and equipment, anti-corrosion protection of metal structures and equipment, and finishing work, but that none of this prevented the plant from operating.
It should be recalled that in December last year, Lukashenka said he had proposed to the US side that it purchase the plant for $3 billion. The Nezhin Mining and Processing Plant was initially built by Slavkaliy, a company owned by Russian oligarch Mikhail Gutseriev. However, after sanctions were imposed on him and his companies, the project was suspended. In 2022, Nedra Nezhin OJSC was subsequently established at the Nezhin Mining and Processing Plant site. In 2025, Lukashenka acknowledged that the plant had been nationalised.