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MINSK, 12 January (BelTA) – Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich is initiating the establishment of new chemical enterprises in Belarus, BelTA learned from Mikhail Myasnikovich’s interview in the latest issue of the Belaruskaya Dumka magazine.

Mikhail Myasnikovich pointed out that the production of polymeric materials develops fast all over the world. While ten years ago the global output of polymeric materials was close to 250 million tonnes per annum, at present it exceeds 300 million tonnes. The choice of polymeric composite materials grows larger all the time. Modifications to fit specific applications are produced. Mass-produced polymers and various derivative composites will represent the bulk of the output in the foreseeable future instead of polymers, which are synthetized for the first time. Such composites are in demand in automobile engineering, aircraft engineering, instrument making, electronics, civil engineering, agriculture, production of plastic packaging, and other industries.

The head of the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament remarked that the production and processing of polymer materials represents a large branch of the Belarusian chemical industry, however, Belarusian companies depend heavily on imported basic components and tend to make semi-finished products as a rule. “The fact puts a damp on their competitive ability and sales effectiveness. Many polyether materials, polypropylene, styrole and other ones as well as their derivative copolymers are imported in hundreds of tonnes every year, with an estimated over $2 billion spent,” said Mikhail Myasnikovich.

Due to these facts it is necessary to expand the domestic production capacity as a strategic goal, believes Mikhail Myasnikovich. The senator believes it can be done effectively as a national project for setting up enterprises to make promising composite materials in Belarus for specific customers. “I am primarily talking about new manufacturing facilities, which will be able to primarily provide our manufacturers of artificial fibers, yarns, and fabrics with raw materials. They, in turn, will be able to make ready-made products with a high added value for various branches of economy instead of semi-finished products,” explained the chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus. “Upon my request and actually in accordance with the scientific goal that has been set, scientists have prepared a report, which has been backed by Belneftekhim Concern, the Economy Ministry, and the Belarusian State Technological University.”

Since the project requires massive investment, Mikhail Myasnikovich believes it can be implemented together with Russian partners. It could be a large-scale and systemic project of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, believes the senator.