OREANDA-NEWS. December 22, 2011. OJSC Belaruskali invested in production development Br1.8 trillion in Jan-Sep 2011 (around USD 206 million), a representative in the administration of the company told reporters.

Last year the company invested a total of Br1.3 trillion (Br8,720/USD 1).

The potash producer is currently in,plementing a large-scale investment programmes aimed at expanding the company’s resource base, retooling and sustaining Belaruskali’s position on the world market.

Besides retooling, one of the priorities pursued by Belaruskali is to launch Beriozovsky potash mine (with an estimated yield of 6 million tonnes of ore a year) in 2012.

Potash fertilizer export of OJSC Belaruskali rose 14.4% on the year in January-September to 6.1 million tonnes.

Potash output amounted to 6.9 million tonnes, up 3.4% on the year.

The increase is attributed to market revival after the global recession and favorable trends.

The price of potash is getting closer to U.S. USD 400 per tonne, compared to USD 300 in 2010, the representative said.

The state controls 100% in Belaruskali.

The state-owned Belarusian company OJSC Belaruskali is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of potash fertilizers, employing about 20,000 personnel. It operates the Starobinskoye potash salts deposit and comprises four mine groups, auxiliary shops and support units.

Belaruskali controls 16% of the world’s potash fertilizer market.