Innovations based on local raw materials will ensure a new quality of development for small towns - VNS participant

December 17, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA /. The use of local raw materials for the creation of innovative product manufacturing can ensure a new quality of development for small towns. This opinion was expressed in a conversation with a BELTA correspondent by Ivan Babak, Director of OAO Dolomit, Deputy of the Vitebsk City Council of Deputies, and participant of the IV All-Belarusian People's Congress. According to him, the Program for Socio-Economic Development of Belarus for 2011-2015, along with large-scale tasks for enterprise modernization, emphasizes the active implementation of innovative technologies and scientific developments, including those involving the use of local raw materials and deep processing of extracted natural resources. In this regard, special attention is to be paid to the implementation of innovative projects in small towns, the development of which remains a priority for the next five-year period, emphasized the Director of Dolomit. "The President noted this in his speech at the IV All-Belarusian People's Congress, paying close attention to the need to introduce advanced technologies for the use of local raw materials as one of the conditions for ensuring a new quality of life in the regions," said Ivan Babak. The innovation development program of OAO Dolomit for 2011-2015 provides for the implementation of technologies for obtaining final products with high added value. The enterprise will have to work hard to reduce production costs, including reducing energy consumption, as well as continue to diversify production and master the production of new types of high-tech products. One of the promising projects for production modernization involves the introduction of energy-efficient technology for the production of dolomite flour, which accounts for about 60% of the total production volume, as well as the launch of a cogeneration unit for electricity generation for its own needs. It is also planned to create a production of calcined dolomite for the metallurgical industry, and another novelty of the enterprise will be lime from dolomite, which can subsequently be used as raw material for the production of building materials. The preliminary cost of the three innovative projects for the next five-year period is estimated at about Br200 billion. OAO Dolomit operates on local raw materials and is located in the urban-type settlement of Ruba near Vitebsk, and is a city-forming enterprise. Ivan Babak is confident that the strenuous, initiative-driven work of the entire team will allow the implementation of the plans, and therefore, ensure the successful development of the urban settlement. -0-