A. Lukashenko sets the task of creating a system for the effective use of small energy facilities using local fuels

May 13, Minsk /BELTA/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko believes it is necessary to create a system for the efficient use of small-scale energy facilities focused on local types of fuel and to introduce a high culture of work in this area. He gave the corresponding instruction on May 13, during his visit to the scientific and production enterprise "Belkotlomash" in Beshenkovichi, BELTA was informed by the press service of the Belarusian leader. On the fourth day of his working trip around the regions of Belarus, the head of state worked in the Beshenkovichi district of the Vitebsk region. One of the central topics was the production of energy-saving domestic thermal equipment as a crucial component of strengthening the country's energy independence. NPP "Belkotlomash" is one of the leading manufacturers of boiler equipment in Belarus. This private enterprise, founded in 1990, specializes in the development and production of hot water and steam boilers operating on various types of fuel (liquid, solid, and gaseous). The boilers are designed for heating and hot water supply of housing and communal, industrial, agricultural enterprises, and other facilities of the national economy. Due to their efficiency, the units are ideal for villages, hospitals, schools, and farms. In addition, NPP "Belkotlomash" manufactures boiler auxiliary equipment, automated control systems, and provides after-sales service for its products. The enterprise's activities are aimed at solving problems of heat supply reliability, fuel and thermal energy saving. The company has achieved good results in the design and engineering of boilers and boiler houses, which, in terms of key parameters, meet European standards. The boilers produced by NPP "Belkotlomash" are characterized by their modular design, which greatly simplifies the installation process. Currently, the product range includes over 60 items. All products are certified in Belarus and the Russian Federation. In total, solid fuel boilers (firewood, peat, wood chips) account for 88% of the company's production, gas boilers for 10%, and fuel oil boilers for 2%. The President was shown modifications of boilers running on local fuels, as well as a new boiler that generates thermal and electrical energy from wood waste and milled peat. Its capacity is 3 MW, which allows for the production of 2.5 MW of thermal energy and 250 kW of electrical energy. Many enterprises of "Belenergo" are already showing interest in this innovation. "There is a prototype of the new boiler, but there is no system for switching to local fuels," said Alexander Lukashenko. "We need to create such a system, to teach people how to work. Otherwise, it turns out that the boiler is good, everything is connected, but at the approach to it – it's the Stone Age." In this regard, the head of state instructed to create a system for enterprises to switch to local fuels in the country. Alexander Lukashenko instructed that the necessary work be carried out, not forgetting the improvement of the adjacent territory, including the area for storing the fuel itself. Thus, a new culture of work at modernized enterprises should be created. Alexander Lukashenko familiarized himself with the specifics of NPP "Belkotlomash" and visited the production workshops. "We are developing boilers that run on local fuels," said Viktor Kravchenko, director of "Belkotlomash." "Moreover, their efficiency is much higher than that of gas boilers. For example, the cost of producing 1 Gcal in a milled peat boiler is Br158 thousand, while in a gas boiler it is Br240 thousand." Recently, the enterprise has been expanding its production. If in 2010, 86 boilers were produced here, then this year their number will increase to 110 units. By 2015, it is planned to reach 200 units. In addition to domestic consumption, NPP "Belkotlomash" products are actively exported. Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Russia show interest in them. Currently, the enterprise has a representative office in St. Petersburg, and in the future, "Belkotlomash" plans to open its representative office in Moscow. "If previously we only worked for the domestic market, then problems in the currency market forced us to sell products more actively for export, thereby earning currency to purchase imported raw materials," noted Viktor Kravchenko, explaining that the enterprise buys metal from Russian suppliers. Alexander Lukashenko advised the head of NPP "Belkotlomash" to offer customers their services for installation and further maintenance when selling boilers. Regarding the development of energy in the Vitebsk region as a whole, the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, informed the President. In particular, he reported that by 2013, the region plans to increase the share of local fuels in the energy balance of housing and communal services enterprises from the current 59.8% to 75%. "Initially, we planned to reach this figure by 2015, but now we are setting an ambitious goal to reach a share of local fuels in the energy balance of housing and communal services enterprises of up to 75% by 2013," said Alexander Kosinets. He also informed the President that the Vitebsk region is already ahead of other regions and the country as a whole in this indicator. Thus, the share of local fuels in the energy balance of housing and communal services enterprises in Belarus is 40.8%, while in the Vitebsk region it is 59.8%. By 2015, this figure for the republic is planned at 54.5%. "We couldn't do it before because we didn't have the right boilers," explained the governor of Vitebsk region. "Now we are ready to completely change the structure of the fuel balance." Alexander Kosinets reported that a program for the development of small-scale energy in the Vitebsk region is currently being developed. In the future, it is planned to build 68 such energy facilities in the region. According to Alexander Kosinets, the implementation of the planned projects for the development of energy based on local fuels will allow for a twofold reduction in natural gas consumption by 2015. The next topic of the President's working day was the development of poultry farming. According to the Poultry Development Program, by 2015 it is planned to double the production of poultry meat, not only of traditional types – chicken, duck, goose, but also ostrich and turkey. Thus, the volume of poultry production should reach 568.7 thousand tons, and eggs – 2743.4 million pieces. It is planned that the profitability of poultry meat production over this five-year period will be 26.6%, and in 2015 it will reach 40%. In 2006-2010, this figure was 16.5%. Thus, the growth in poultry production volumes over 5 years will be 77%. The President visited the Belarusian-Russian joint limited liability company "Vitkonprodukt," where he familiarized himself with the technological process of hatching day-old broiler chicks and raising poultry using intensive resource-saving technologies. The enterprise, founded in 1998, specializes in raising broiler chickens. The chick-raising workshops are equipped with modern watering, feeding, and climate control lines and can raise up to 8.5 million chicks per year. Broiler chickens are raised on energy-balanced and vitamin-enriched feed, without the addition of hormones or antibiotics. To reduce the import of day-old broiler chicks, the enterprise has an incubator equipped with the latest environmental equipment from a Dutch company, with a production capacity of 14.5 million day-old chicks per year. This has made it possible to fully meet the needs of SOOO "Vitkonprodukt" in breeding stock. Thus, in 2010, 8.4 million day-old broiler chicks were hatched, and in January-April of this year – 2.8 million chicks. This incubator is the only one of its kind in Belarus. The enterprise has begun construction of a workshop for raising parent stock to supply its incubation needs with hatching eggs. The enterprise plans to produce 16.7 thousand tons of poultry meat this year. In the first quarter, 5.4 thousand tons of meat were produced. It is planned that the volume of poultry meat product production this year will amount to Br97.3 billion. A significant portion of the enterprise's products is exported. Alexander Lukashenko noted that supplies to the domestic market should be a priority. Broiler chickens account for 45% of the enterprise's products, offal for 9%, deep-processed products for 14%, and semi-finished products for 32%. In addition, SOOO "Vitkonprodukt" is involved in pig farming and has a feed mill. The enterprise's immediate plans include the creation of an agroholding. By 2015, it is planned to produce 45 thousand tons of poultry and pork annually. As reported to the head of state, the investment volume in the enterprise's development over 5 years amounted to Br38 billion, and profit – Br36 billion. SOOO "Vitkonprodukt" operates a workshop for the production of smoked-boiled and sausage products with a capacity of 150 tons per month, which allows for the production of over 30 types of meat products. Production capacities are utilized at 100%, and the volume of meat product sales in 2010 amounted to almost Br96 billion. SOOO "Vitkonprodukt" won the regional competition for the best entrepreneur in the food production sector in 2010. Since 2011, the enterprise's products, namely broiler chicken meat and natural chilled poultry semi-finished products, have been granted the right to bear the mark "Natural Product. Belarus." Alexander Lukashenko was pleased with what he saw and noted that the presented production structure could be taken as a model for the republic. The President positively assessed the work of the manager. "No one will say that we don't have private businesses in agriculture," added the head of state. Touching upon the topic of private business operations in Belarus, the President noted that he sees great prospects for its development in the country. "Only sick people can say that the President does not need private businesses," remarked Alexander Lukashenko. Addressing Vladimir Nekrashevich, the head of the enterprise, the President said: "What drives you? It's your life, your bread. My job is only to ensure the rights of individuals, the holding manager, and all people. I dream of only dealing with human rights, ensuring a normal salary, and so that no one can come and say: you know, I like this – give it to me, as it happens with our neighbors." Alexander Lukashenko added that "we don't seem to have this." "Yes, they don't like us because they feel that we are competitors, and they will try to suppress us in every way. They will suppress us at Eurovision, like that girl yesterday. Well done! Everything coincided: her behavior, her face, and the song. She sang the anthem of Belarus. Who would let the anthem of Belarus through? Therefore, they are pressuring there, and they will pressure here," said the head of state. At the same time, he believes that the main result is that today "there are queues for Belarusian products." Characterizing the previous day of his working trip to the Mogilev region, the President again focused on the four areas of agricultural reform. In addition, the President is focused on opening production facilities that generate quick profits. Alexander Lukashenko recalled the fruit storage facility he visited the day before at OJSC "Alexandriyskoye" and their experience in growing oyster mushrooms. At that time, the head of state decided to build a mushroom production plant. This is an efficient production with a hundred percent profitability, and it requires almost no investment. "The demand for this product is huge. And this is quick money. Three people work, but what is the return from production," said the President. "If there is demand, then we must do it. We need to look for where we can earn quick money." The head of state again spoke about the Shklovsky district as a model for conducting economic activities for other regions of the country. "I think it makes sense to take a closer look at the Shklovsky district. We have, somewhat by trial and error, somewhat planned, but reached what is needed. This is one of the options for how to do it. This year, almost all farms in the Shklovsky district will operate profitably and without subsidies," emphasized the President. He also added that there are districts where the state has invested, but has not yet seen the desired return. The Shklovsky district is working well this year, so the head of state believes that other regions of the country can adopt this economic management structure. As for the Vitebsk region, Alexander Lukashenko praised Governor Alexander Kosinets for significant progress in agriculture. "There are striking shifts in the Vitebsk region in the culture of farming. But there is still work to be done," noted the head of state. "If you work everywhere as you did where I flew over, then this is a big shift. But this is only half. Everything else must be done this year." "The culture of farming must be normal. Nothing should be built on arable land," he added. At the same time, Alexander Lukashenko sternly warned against cases of mismanagement. "As soon as we discover mismanagement, we will immediately cut all state programs by that amount," emphasized the President. The head of state also inquired about land reclamation in the region. Alexander Kosinets reported that 25 teams are working on land reclamation in the region, with over 220 units of equipment involved. At the same time, there is a need for qualified specialists and equipment. -0-