Belarusian President Announces Joint Project with Russia for Nitrogen Fertilizer Complex, Invites US Partnership

Moscow, September 29 (KUNA) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko proposed on Tuesday involving the United States in a joint Russian-Belarusian project to establish a nitrogen fertilizer production complex, stating that he had reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Gazprom’s participation in implementing the project.

During a meeting with Alexei Ryzhikov, governor of Russia’s Ulyanovsk region, Lukashenko said the Belarusian and Russian sides had agreed that Gazprom would take part in the project. He noted that Belarus would simultaneously invite the United States to join, should Washington be interested in securing supplies of nitrogen fertilizers.

According to the official Belarusian news agency Belta, U.S. participation could be achieved through the use of American technology, with the partnership comprising the United States, Gazprom, and Belarus.

Lukashenko pointed out that the project site had already been selected and that the necessary infrastructure was in place. He added that if the United States did not participate, Belarus would proceed with the project in cooperation with Gazprom and the Russian side, with the final products to be marketed.

The announcement comes amid developments in Belarus-U.S. economic relations concerning fertilizer trade. Earlier this September, Lukashenko announced the resumption of shipments of Belarusian potash fertilizers to the U.S. market. Over recent months, Minsk and Washington have held talks on various economic files.

The project discussed by Lukashenko differs from potash fertilizer trade, as it focuses on nitrogen fertilizers, including products such as ammonia and urea, which rely primarily on natural gas as a key raw material.

The Russian news agency Tass quoted Lukashenko as saying the project could combine American expertise and technology with Russian and Belarusian investments or participation. However, the Belarusian president did not disclose the project’s value, the required investment size, or the start date for construction.

In previous years, Belarus had proposed projects to expand its nitrogen fertilizer production capacity as part of efforts to develop its chemical sector and increase output for export markets. The announcement of Gazprom’s involvement extends economic and energy cooperation between Moscow and Minsk.

In this context, Lukashenko emphasized in other remarks on Tuesday that his country’s policy of diversifying economic relations does not mean distancing itself from Russia, stressing the continuation of cooperation between the two countries in various economic and industrial sectors. (End) D.A.N. / R.J.