OREANDA-NEWS. August 29, 2012. India is still in talks with Belarus over the prospects of purchasing a stake in OJSC Belaruskali, India’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Belarus Manoj Bharti told reporters on Tuesday.

“A shortage of information means that the negotiations are underway between Belaruskali experts and the relevant Indian company. They have not yet made any agreement, therefore we just have to wait for the results of the talks,” the diplomat said.

The ambassador pointed out India’s interest in Belarusian mineral fertilizers. “India has always been interested in uninterrupted supply of fertilizers from Belarus, which prompted the idea to buy a stake in Belaruskali,” the diplomat said.

The state-owned Belarusian company OJSC Belaruskali is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of potash fertilizers, employing about 18,440 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.

The government of Belarus assessed the 100% stake in state-owned OJSC Belaruskali at USD 30 billion.