Business news

Belarusian PM visits Minsk Motor Plant

MINSK, 11 September (BelTA) – Belarusian Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin visited the Minsk Motor Plant (MMZ) to review the future development strategy for the domestic engine manufacturing industry on 11 September, BelTA has learned.

The prime minister inspected the enterprise’s production facilities, the progress of its modernization, and development plans aimed at boosting the output of a wider range of engine models to meet the current demands of the country’s engineering plants and export supplies.

A working meeting was also held at the Minsk Motor Plant. The agenda focused on the innovation and investment activities of the holding company. A wide circle of participants was invited to the discussion, including representatives of the flagship companies of Belarusian machinery manufacturing.

“I wanted us to have a candid conversation about our prospects in engine manufacturing and maximizing the use of domestic engines for the production of our machinery. That is why the heads of our largest machinery manufacturing enterprises were invited. Once again, I want to emphasize: an open and objective discussion is important to me today so that we understand our capabilities and what we can achieve regarding the designated goals. We must clearly understand to what extent we ensure the reliability of our machinery industry. Therefore, our meeting today centers on the topic of domestic engines,” Aleksandr Turchin noted.

The Minsk Motor Plant is constantly expanding its product range, which is highly sought after in the machinery industry. For several years, the enterprise has been implementing an investment project to establish a modern, high-tech engine manufacturing facility. State-of-the-art high-tech equipment is being introduced as part of the modernization of active production lines. In 2026, the plant plans to complete preparations for the production of small-displacement diesel engines with a capacity of up to 2.5 liters, which will allow for an annual output of up to 7,500 units.

Director General of the Minsk Motor Plant Aleksandr Botvinnik noted that during the Belarusian People’s Congress, the president set a task to develop a complete spectrum of engines that will be in demand in Belarus and possess strong export potential. “The focus of today’s meeting is the work we are currently conducting, as well as the innovative development of the Minsk Motor Plant in terms of creating a new lineup of engines. In recent years, about six new models have been developed, which are fundamentally different from what we manufactured before. Around 30 modifications have been created, and they are actively used today by our consumers to produce final goods both within Belarus and abroad. A separate issue is our investment activity: the modernization of existing production facilities and the construction of a foundry. This will allow us to clear bottlenecks in manufacturing the engines that will be sought after in both the domestic and international markets,” he said.

According to the MMZ director general, there are plans to replace specialized modular machine tools with a universal production line, which will enable the manufacturing of parts for engines up to 14 liters. “This means moving into a new lineup with a higher displacement that we have never produced before. Our task is to expand into the higher-horsepower segment,” he added.

Mikhail Klesso, chief designer of the MMZ, noted that work is underway on a 9.5-liter engine, the manufacturing of a 14-liter prototype has been completed, and engineering is also in progress for a 2.5-liter engine. “We are focusing on marine and river applications, as well as expanding the use of our engines across various types of machinery,” he said.

For instance, a prototype has been manufactured and a complex of tests has been conducted for the 4-cylinder MMZ-2.5DTI engine. This development expands the lineup of mass-produced small-displacement engines, allowing for a high degree of component unification. A prototype of the 6-cylinder MMZ-14D6 engine has also been built. This represents a fundamentally new family of powertrains being developed at the plant. Its design incorporates technical solutions never previously used in the enterprise’s serial production. Bench tests have been carried out, and the full-load performance characteristic for a 450-hp engine has been established. This engine is designed for use in agricultural, construction, and special equipment, as well as in diesel generator sets.

A strategic step is the establishment of a modern, high-tech production facility for engines with a displacement of 19 to 69 liters. Construction and installation work in the assembly and testing section of these engines has been completed, along with commissioning activities for the test bench. The testing complex is scheduled to be put into operation as early as this month.

As for regional projects, the first phase of the project in Zhitkovichi was completed last year, and this year the second phase has commenced. Another key initiative is the construction of a new foundry in Stolbtsy – a modern, digital, and robotic facility that will significantly improve casting quality and deliver a strong economic effect.

The plant’s exports grew by 5.7% in January-August 2026. “We are working well with our partners in the post-Soviet space, including Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and others. We can confidently say that the Minsk Motor Plant engine is the engine of the Union State, because nearly all of its components are manufactured in Belarus and Russia. We are also actively cooperating with the Asian region,” the MMZ director general pointed out.