Aleksandr Lukashenko meets with BPC Director General Valery Ivanov

On 10 September President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Director General of Belarusian Potash Company (BPC) Valery Ivanov to receive his report.

“When you were appointed, we agreed that the operation of the company, production of potash fertilizers and mixed fertilizers will be top on my agenda. Mixed fertilizers can be produced on site simultaneously with potash fertilizers, maybe, at the premises of the potash plant. Let us see, which option is best. We also agreed that I will closely monitor the sales of phosphate, nitrogen and potash fertilizers through our company,” the head of state said.

“It seems like despite the challenges of the beginning of the year, in monetary terms we are only 5% behind compared to the same period of the previous year. I think we can catch up. We are also behind in physical terms. We need to make up for it, by all means,” the President said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko asked about distribution of quotas on the sale and export of potash fertilizers between Belarusian and Russian members of Belarusian Potash Company for the next year. “After all, Russians insisted on an independent audit of the production of potash fertilizers. We agreed that the audit will determine the sales of potassium. How is this matter being dealt with? According to my sources, Russians are very reluctant to increase exports, though it is legal, of the Belarusian part of potash fertilizers. I do not understand it; I would like you to explain the situation to me,” the President said.

The head of state ordered to inform him about other aspects of the operation of Belarusian Potash Company.

Aleksandr Lukashenko believes that Belarusian Potash Company needs to optimize its operation. “I will be honest with you. Of course, I monitor the situation around the company and I see that even some unresolved issues are no longer urgent: there are no conflicts, even disputable issues. Nevertheless, it is necessary to optimize the work and maybe the structure of the company,” the President said.

Valery Ivanov made a report about the company’s operation in January-August 2012. He informed that the first quarter of the year was a rather difficult period for the company.