Republic

President: Belarus interested in investment projects to extract and process brown coal

Belarus is interested in encouraging investment projects for extracting and processing brown coal, said President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko as he met with head of Luxembourg-based company Polar Stars Group Nikolay von Keler on September 18. The President remarked, energy security as a major component of the country’s independence is a fundamental concern of Belarus. “Certainly, any project is important for us nowadays,” stressed Alexander Lukashenko. The President said, the government had thoroughly discussed two investment projects developed by Polar Stars Group for extracting and processing brown coal and slate coal in Belarus. He noted, the projects provide for billions of expenses and such large projects have to be approved by the President. If an agreement is reached, “you will become our man, we will treat you and support you like we would support our company,” the President told Nikolay von Keler. “This project is part of the national security and independence. If we accomplish it, we will be able to advance far in this area,” Alexander Lukashenko added. After asking the foreign investor about his view of cooperation with Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko remarked, some Western and Russian investors believe Belarus “to be a pristine country for cutthroat privatization”. The head of state made it clear: “We are not going to dig in an investor’s history seeking where the money comes from. If a man has money and is ready to invest it, he may do it, provided the money doesn’t come from illegal trade in drugs and arms”. “An analysis of your companies, holdings testifies you have serious intentions,” said the President of Belarus.