OREANDA-NEWS. Belarus' chemical company OAO Grodno Azot is currently busy implementing a long-term realignment programme, a company representative told.

Grodno Azot has chosen to outsource some of its auxiliary services (construction, transportation, repairs and maintenance). So far Grodno Azot has set up 5 companies that will provide auxiliary services for their patron company. For instance, OAO Grodno AZOT transformed its affiliates into unitary companies AzotStroi (construction services), AzotRemStroi (maintenance), AzotSpetsTrans (transportation).

The long-term realignment programme is aimed at cutting production costs, outsourcing certain services and operations, producing highly competitive goods.

The programme is based on similar projects conducted by nitrogen fertilizer producers in foreign states.

Grodno Azot was set up in 1963 and transformed into an open joint-stock company in 2002. The Belarusian government holds a 99.97% stake. The annual capacity is estimated at: liquid ammonia - 976,800 tonnes, carbamide - 945,000, nitrogen solution - 720,000 tonnes, ammonium sulfate - 319,000 tonnes, methanol - 80,000 tonnes, 111,200 tonnes of caprolactam, biofuel - 40,000 tonnes, premium quality carbonic acid - 24,000 tonnes.

Grodno Azot is the main producer of liquid ammonia, nitrogen fertilizers, methanol, caprolactam, biodiesel fuel.