Belarusian authorities discussing expansion of Russia's port infrastructure for shipments of potassium chloride

MINSK. Oct 3 (Interfax) - President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko announced support from Russian President Vladimir Putin on the issue of Minsk using additional port facilities in the ports of the Leningrad region, but there is no consensus in the republic on the advisability of such a decision.

"Some say that Bronka and the port in Murmansk are enough, Ivan Ivanovich (Golovaty, general director of Belaruskali) says we should not refuse, we need to negotiate and agree on another port near Leningrad [St. Petersburg]. I talked about this topic with the President of Russia. There was no rejection. Literally, "If you want to ship, operate and have property in other ports near Leningrad, I will support it," Lukashenko said on Tuesday at a meeting with the government on the conditions for the export of potash fertilizers, as cited by the state publication "SB. Belarus Today."

"Port facilities are a very serious thing. The interests there overlap on a colossal scale. Nevertheless, there is support from Russia," he added.

Lukashenko also emphasized the need to reduce accounts receivable for potash fertilizers supplied to foreign markets. "First of all, regarding the supply of mineral fertilizers, potash, in particular... The question of questions. No references to the fact that payments are not being made somewhere. There can be no more talk on this topic," the president said.

In this regard, he instructed the National Bank to help resolve this issue and work together with the government.

In addition, Lukashenko said that the government had previously considered the possibility of creating a special exporting company that would export all types of mineral fertilizers produced in Belarus; not only potash, but also nitrogen and phosphorus.