German investor to allocate over Br70 billion for modernization of Obol Ceramic Plant

April 26, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. A German investor will allocate over Br70 billion for the modernization of the communal unitary enterprise "Obolsky Ceramic Plant" (Vitebsk region), the enterprise informed a BELTA correspondent. The investment project involves the construction of a workshop with a capacity of 60 million standard bricks per year. The porous ceramic blocks planned for production here will have a lower weight compared to conventional ceramic building materials and higher heat-insulating properties, similar in thermal conductivity to wood and cellular concrete. The project also provides for the reconstruction of workshop No. 1 with the replacement of existing equipment. The implementation of the project will allow the enterprise to reduce natural gas consumption by 21% per 1 thousand standard bricks, increase the competitiveness of its products, and improve production and economic activities. Construction is planned to begin in the autumn. All modernization work is to be completed and planned capacities are to be reached within three years. The payback period for the project is about 6 years. The enterprise was founded in 1947. It specializes in the production of various types of bricks, ceramic stone, and paving slabs. In January-March, 7.2 million standard bricks worth Br3.5 billion were produced. The share of exports was 10%. Bricks worth $50,000 were shipped to Russia. -0-