Vitebskhlebprom will allocate about Br11 billion for retooling in 2011.

January 25, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. RUPP "Vitebskhlebprom" will invest about Br11 billion in production development in 2011, the enterprise informed a BELTA correspondent. The funds will be used to purchase new equipment, which will reduce the energy intensity of the enterprises' operations, expand the product range, and improve the quality of manufactured products. For example, the Vitebsk Bakery plans to commission a new Italian line with a capacity of about 5 tons of products per month in the first quarter. It will produce rusks and baranki (Italian dried bread rings and sticks). A major investment project worth Br1.5 billion is to be implemented by the Polotsk Bakery. It is planned to replace the existing oven and install an automated line for the production of hearth and rye bread varieties. Gluboksky and Orshansky bakeries intend to completely re-equip their confectionery shops during the year, maintaining their capacities. The modernization of these productions will allow for a 1.5-fold expansion of the sweet product range and an improvement in the quality of manufactured items. A number of "Vitebskhlebprom" enterprises will implement measures to increase energy efficiency this year. For example, Lepel Bakery plans to replace its current outdated oven with a less energy-intensive one with a proofing chamber, which will reduce energy costs by 20%. Dokshitsky Bakery intends to replace its compressor equipment for the same purpose. The savings from the implementation of this project will amount to Br28 million per year. The payback period is three years. In 2010, "Vitebskhlebprom" enterprises produced 56.3 thousand tons of bakery and confectionery products worth Br150.6 billion, or 110.6% compared to the previous year. Products worth $900 thousand were exported to Russia. The profitability of sales for the year was 6.7%. Investments in fixed assets amounted to Br20.5 billion. RUPP "Vitebskhlebprom" includes 11 bakeries, the construction and installation enterprise "Vitebskhlebstroy," and the agricultural enterprise "Prozhektor." The average number of employees at the enterprise is over 2.8 thousand people. -0-