Republic
18.09.2007
Polar Stars Group S.A. company intends to accomplish two investment projects for extracting and processing brown coal and slate coal in Belarus.
The press service of the Belarusian head of state told BelTA, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko met with Polar Stars Group CEO Nikolay von Keler on September 18.
The head of state remarked, energy security as a major component of the country’s independence is a fundamental concern of Belarus. This is why any projects relating to energy security are so important.
Nikolay von Keler presented two investment projects for extracting and processing brown coal and slate coal in Belarus to Alexander Lukashenko. The Belarusian government had discussed the projects. The President of Belarus remarked, the projects provide for billions of expenses, therefore such large projects have to be approved by the President.
“An analysis of your companies, holdings testifies you have serious intentions,” the President of Belarus told the businessman.
According to the President, these projects lie within the area of the national security and independence. If they are accomplished, Belarus will be able to advance far in addressing these issues.
Alexander Lukashenko expressed interest in accomplishing the projects and told Nikolay von Keler that the Belarusian side is ready to provide the necessary support.
Corresponding investment agreements are expected to be signed in the nearest future. The projects are supposed to be implemented within 5-7 years.
Belarus’ total brown coal reserves are estimated at roughly 1.5 billion tonnes. The largest deposits are located in the Gomel oblast.
Quality parameters of Belarusian brown coal is close to those of coals in South Ural Basin (Russia) and Dnepr Basin (Ukraine), which are now explored for power generation purposes.
Among other options Belarusian brown coal can be burnt to produce electricity or electricity and heating energy simultaneously, can be gasified to produce generator gas, can undergo thermochemical processing to produce engine oils or methanol.
Highly effective technologies are used planetwide to produce energy using brown coal and slate coal. Belarusian scientists have corresponding technologies, too. The optimal solution for using brown coal and slate coal in Belarus will be made on the basis of a competent feasibility study.