OREANDA-NEWS. March 31, 2009. Azarab Industries Company from Iran intends to construct a cement plant in Belarus, Director of the Geology Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Vladimir Karpuk told a press conference in Minsk.

The Iranian company expressed its interest in the development of Shirokoye and Podkamenye deposits in the Gomel oblast. The Geology Department analyzed the radiation and ecological peculiarities of the deposit upon the request of the Iranian side. An investment agreement is to be signed with Azarab Industries Company in the near future.

Vladimir Karpuk reminded reporters that an investment agreement was also signed with Triple company. In 2008 alone, it invested more than Br1 billion in the geological exploration of the Hotislavsk deposit. Polar Star foreign company also operates in Belarus. “It has not started to develop the Zhitkovichi lignite deposit yet, but it does not want to give up the project,” the specialist said. A radiation and hygienic assessment of the Dobrush chalk deposit in the Gomel oblast was carried out under the contract with the Russian company ITERA. “This project however is not implemented the way we want. We have done our best to prepare it for the development by the investor, now everything depends on our partners,” he added.