OREANDA-NEWS. November 14, 2011. Russian fertilizer producer Uralkali is not interested in acquiring a minority stake in Belarusian state-owned potash producer Belaruskali, Viktor Belyakov, the Russian company’s director for economy and finances, told.

On October 7, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that Belarus plans to keep a controlling stake in Belaruskali, unspecified stakes in which are planned to be sold to investors.

Belarus plans to sell unspecified stakes in Belaruskali to investors who offer the highest prices, Lukashenko also said then, reiterating that the company has been valued at U.S. USD 30 billion.

“Buying a less than controlling stake in Belaruskali is not interesting for us. As the stake we are interested in has not been offered for sale, as far as we know, we are not considering the issue of a purchase,” Belyakov said, adding that Uralkali finds the announced value of Belaruskali to be too high.

Meanwhile, earlier in October, Uralkali CEO Vladislav Baumgertner said that Uralkali was still interested in purchasing control over Belaruskali despite the Belarusian government’s reluctance to sell a controlling stake in the company.