JSC "Dolomit" plans to implement three innovative projects worth about Br200 billion over 5 years.

December 17, Vitebsk / Sergey Kotovetov - BELTA /. Dolomit OJSC plans to implement three innovative projects with a total preliminary cost of about Br200 billion in 2011-2015, the enterprise director Ivan Babak told a BELTA correspondent. Today, the joint-stock company needs to solve the problems of reducing production costs, including reducing energy consumption, as well as diversifying production and mastering the production of new types of high-tech products. The innovation development program developed at the enterprise, which is to be implemented in the coming five-year period, is aimed at this. Future plans include the implementation of a large-scale project for the technical re-equipment of dolomite flour production, which accounts for about 60% of the commodity product structure. It provides for the replacement of existing equipment with two vertical roller mills for the main grinding of dolomite crushed stone into flour. The introduction of innovative technology developed by the industry institute NIISM will allow the enterprise to reduce energy consumption by approximately 60% and reduce fuel consumption by almost 50%. In addition, the project provides for the commissioning of a cogeneration unit, which is designed to ensure an annual electricity generation of almost 100 million kWh for the enterprise's needs. The reduction in energy consumption, coupled with the production of its own electricity, will enable Dolomit to fully meet its needs for this type of energy resource, emphasized Ivan Babak. The project is planned to be implemented in two stages by 2015. The investment justification has been completed today, and the preliminary cost of the project is estimated at up to Br110 billion. In parallel, the issue of attracting investment resources for the implementation of the project, including foreign credit lines, is being worked out. Such work is being carried out for all three prospective innovative projects. Two more projects are related to the organization of production of new types of products. Thus, the enterprise plans to master the production of calcined dolomite for the metallurgical industry. The project is import-substituting in nature, and its estimated cost will be about Br30 billion. The enterprise has held a tender for the supply of a dolomite calcining line, and its results are planned to be summarized at the beginning of 2011. The project is expected to be implemented by 2013. In addition, Dolomit, together with the NIISM institute, plans to create a lime production from dolomite, which will subsequently be used for the production of a wide range of building materials (blocks, silicate bricks, plaster, etc.). For this purpose, the enterprise plans to build an energy-efficient high-speed lime calcining kiln with an annual capacity of 140 thousand tons. The design documentation for the equipment is being developed by NIISM. The use of energy-efficient technology, as well as less energy-intensive raw materials (the natural moisture content of the dolomite mined by the enterprise does not exceed 10%, which requires less energy resources for its calcination), makes it possible to produce high-quality lime with good price characteristics, which in turn should positively affect the competitiveness of building materials produced from it. The project with an approximate cost of Br60 billion is planned to be implemented by 2014. For January-November, the production growth rate at Dolomit OJSC was 109% compared to the same period in 2009. Net profit in January-October amounted to about Br2 billion, and profitability was 7%. The enterprise was founded in 1931 and specializes in the production of dolomite flour, dolomite crushed stone, mineral powder for road construction, and dolomite filler used in the production of building materials. The raw material base is dolomite deposits near Vitebsk with proven reserves of 739 million tons. In 1995, the enterprise was transformed into the open joint-stock company Dolomit. -0-