Berdimuhamedov and Belarusian Ambassador discuss the situation around the Garlyk mining and processing factory
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received new Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Turkmenistan, Vyacheslav Beskosty, who presented his credentials to the Head of the State.
During the meeting, the Head of State and the diplomat discussed the main areas of Turkmen-Belarusian cooperation in the economic sphere. According to the Belarusian state agency BelTA, the Turkmen leader outlined important issues that need to be resolved as soon as possible, including the situation around the Garlyk mining and processing factory.
After the talks finished, the Belarusian ambassador remarked that Turkmenistan is ready for a compromise on the Garlyk mining and processing plant project.
“During today’s meeting Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow confirmed the Turkmen side is ready for a compromise,” the diplomat stated.
The diplomat noted that a Belarusian delegation will arrive in Ashgabat on 10 October. It will include Deputy Prime Minister Igor Lyashenko, as well as the directors general of Belaruskali and the main contractor – Belgorkhimprom.
“As far as I can understand the Belarusian delegation will bring a package of proposals to advance the project,” the ambassador said.
At the same time, the diplomat did not rule out the possibility that the Garlyk mining and processing plant matter would be discussed at the top level involving Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko, who will be in Turkmenistan on 10-11 October to participate in a session of the CIS Heads of State Council.
“Mutually beneficial decisions will be worked out as a result of contacts to determine how the governments of our countries should proceed in order to advance this project. Securing normal operation of the facility is the ultimate goal,” the diplomat said.
“We’ve agreed with the Turkmen side that the situation around the Garlyk mining and processing factory should in no way negatively affect all the other avenues of cooperation and there is a bunch of them,” Beskosty added.
The Garlyk mining and processing factory, built in the east of Turkmenistan by Belgorhimprom OJSC, to produce potash fertilizers costed to Turkmenistan about 1 billion US dollars. The enterprise was commissioned on March 31, 2017, with a two-year delay due to the fault of the contractor.
Nevertheless, Turkmenistan make concessions to the Belarusian side and agreed to put the plant into operation a later date than it was stated in the contract.
However, more than a year after the plant was commissioned, it was not possible to reach the production indicators fixed in the contract. The facility’s performance during its first year, declared by the contractor in the amount of 350 thousand tons, was not achieved even by 5 percent.
The issue is likely to be the topic of negotiations between the presidents of Turkmenistan and Belarus on the sidelines of the summit of the CIS Heads of State on October 11. After that, in accordance with the instructions of the presidents of the two states, the relevant structures will deal with the issue to find the solution.
Nury AMANOV
