On April 19, the NAS of Belarus hosted a meeting of the Council for Strategic Projects under the President of the Republic of Belarus. The main topic was the discussion of the state and development of the republic’s mineral resource base. Representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Architecture and Construction, the Ministry of Energy, the NAS of Belarus, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Economy and the State Committee on Property of the Republic of Belarus took part in its work.

Opening the meeting, Chairman of the Council for Strategic Projects under the President of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Gusakov reminded those present that this set of issues was considered at a meeting with the President of the Republic of Belarus on March 12. The Head of State set the tasks of intensive and efficient development of deposits, extraction and processing of minerals, increasing exploration, including hydrocarbon raw materials. The protocol of the President's instructions provides for consideration of these issues at a meeting of the Council. "I want to emphasize that we are talking about a comprehensive, systematic and detailed review. Not only the issues of availability, exploration and extraction, but also the practical application of minerals in the interests of the development of the national economy as a whole. Our country does not have rich reserves of resources, therefore the task of their fullest and most rational use is so urgent. And this task is being solved on the basis of hard work of human and intellectual potential. Therefore, we must conduct a kind of “brainstorming”, identify the most pressing problems and reserves. The main thing is to justify and propose balanced and precise solutions, practical measures and mechanisms for consideration by the Head of State. If necessary, to make proposals to adjust and improve legislation, standards and technical conditions, etc.," Vladimir Gusakov stressed.

At the meeting of the Council for Strategic Projects on April 19, a number of topical issues were considered. These are: the state of the mineral resource base of strategic minerals, existing problems and ways to solve them (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection); the current state of the mineral resource base of hydrocarbons of Belorusneft Company, problems and prospects of development (Scientific and Production Center on Geology); problematic issues of the functioning of mining organizations of the Ministry of Architecture and Construction and measures to address them (Ministry of Architecture and Construction); prospects for the development of the peat industry and the creation of import-substituting peat-based industries (Ministry of Energy); problems and prospects for the use of peat, sapropels, hydromineral resources (Institute for Environmental Management of the NAS of Belarus); training for geological exploration, extraction and processing of mineral resources, problematic issues and ways to solve them (Ministry of Education); problematic issues of withdrawal and provision of land plots for mining, as well as the construction of facilities necessary for processing and storage of extractable resources (State Committee on Property of the Republic of Belarus); directions for attracting investments and measures to stimulate projects for the development of mineral resources (Ministry of Economy).

It is important to note that in their speeches, the heads of ministries, departments, and scientific organizations not only assessed the state of affairs in the republic on the subject of the report, but also made specific proposals to address the problematic issues raised. At the meeting, an instruction was given, taking into account the comments made, to finalize the materials and submit them to the Council for generalization.