Vitebsk Grain Processing Plant will invest about Br7 billion in fixed assets in 2010.

February 3, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. OJSC "Vitebsk Grain Products Plant" will invest about Br7 billion in fixed assets in 2010, the enterprise director Vladimir Navichenok told a BELTA correspondent. The main part of the projects is planned to be implemented in the first half of the year. In particular, in February, a flour packaging line into paper bags with a capacity of 400 tons per shift is to be commissioned, and in March, a new line for the production of flour semi-finished products for baking pancakes, muffins, and crepes is scheduled to be launched. Modernization will also affect the feed mill of the enterprise. Here, it is planned to install crushing equipment, a mixer, a line for final oil spraying, and 38 tanks with a capacity of 1.4 thousand tons for storing finished products. Technical re-equipment of this section, in addition to improving the quality of manufactured feed, will increase production by almost half (up to 20 thousand tons). In the third quarter, the main investment project will be the automation of the mill, which will increase labor efficiency. All data on the operation of the equipment will be displayed on a computer, which will allow for full control of the work process and reduce the number of workers employed in the workshop. Seven people will be transferred to other production sites. In 2009, the enterprise produced products worth Br95.6 billion, which amounted to 120% of the 2008 level. Sales profitability was 4.5%. 1.1 thousand tons of flour were exported, which is 17.8% more in physical terms than in the previous year. The investment volume amounted to Br1.8 billion. The energy saving indicator was minus 21% with a target of minus 12%. The enterprise was founded in 1953. It was joint-stocked in 1997. It specializes in the production of flour, cereals, and compound feeds. The product range includes over 40 items. The average number of employees is over 500 people. -0-