Vitebsk Oil Extraction Plant OJSC's vegetable oil is used for biofuel production in Belarus and Europe
The commissioning of the new preparatory and pressing department of Vitebsk Oil Extraction Plant OJSC has significantly increased production volumes.
Thanks to the modernization of the oil extraction shop, which includes the preparatory and pressing department, productivity has increased from 300 tons per day to 405. Currently, the plant's share in the total volume of vegetable oil production by enterprises of the republic is over 20%. The plant can process up to 130 thousand tons of raw materials per year. Unrefined vegetable oil is supplied to the fat processing plants of Belarus, where it is refined and then sold, and is also used for the production of mayonnaise and margarine. It is also in demand in other countries: the Baltics, Western Europe, and Scandinavia. In addition, Extrol brand vegetable oil from Vitebsk is the basis for the production of biofuel in Belarus and Europe.
The head of the shop, Svetlana Pechinskaya, shows old photos that show what the production looked like in the early thirties of the last century, when flax seeds were first processed in the city on the Dvina. At that time, it was the only crop; later, it was replaced by rapeseed. In those years, a steam locomotive stood next to the building, supplying steam to the shop. Much has changed over time; today, the Oil Extraction Plant is a state-of-the-art facility that is on par with similar plants in developed Western countries. Svetlana Konstantinovna speaks about this with expertise, as she herself visited enterprises in the Czech Republic and Germany when she was involved in the implementation of new technologies.
The oil extraction shop is called the heart of the plant. Therefore, it receives special attention. Vitebsk MES is the only enterprise in the republic that processes seeds using the pre-pressing-extraction method. This technology allows for maximum extraction of valuable vegetable oil from them. The by-product, meal, is used in the production of high-calorie feed for livestock and poultry. Svetlana Pechinskaya explains that all processes are fully automated. New equipment was installed in the extraction section a little earlier, the next step was the construction of modern elevator silos, and last autumn the preparatory and pressing department was built.
– Having studied the equipment market, we chose the German company “CPM SKET”. Interestingly, their presses are still in operation in our old shop. When specialists from Germany came, they were surprised that they were still working, and at full capacity. For them, this is a rarity, – says Svetlana Konstantinovna.
With the launch of the new shop, staff optimization occurred. The number of people involved in the work has almost halved. Now, two operators work in the preparatory and extraction sections, and one more is in the old shop, where a single-stage press is installed. One setter works with them per shift. All employees have undergone retraining. Working conditions have significantly improved; today, the operator's main workplace is not in the noisy shop, but in the control room near the monitors.
– The core team has been preserved; many have been with the enterprise for 20 years, and there are dynasties: Yakovlevs, Khlebovskys, Tarushko. Fathers and children, husbands and wives work together. It is difficult to single out anyone; all are highly qualified specialists. And the youth are also worthy, – says the head of the shop.
Her deputy, Tatyana Gordetskaya, joined the enterprise three years ago after graduating from the Belarusian Technological Institute and immediately integrated into the friendly team. The leading technologist, Larisa Khlebobovskaya, is also in her place. By the way, it has always been difficult to get a job at Vitebsk MEZ, and the oil extraction workshop was generally considered an elite unit. So, only the best were hired here. People value their jobs and do not complain about their salaries. They are proud to work in a modern production facility.
And the process of enterprise renewal will be continued. The immediate plans include the acquisition of a meal pelletizing line. The modernization of the meal elevator, the capacity of which has long not met the required standards, is also on the agenda. Modernization, according to the plant management headed by Director Alexander Mareyko, is the key to the success of the enterprise, which occupies an important place in the economy of Belarus.
Tatyana Pasternak, "Vitebskiye vesti"