On May 15, 2025, a meeting of the Council for Strategic Projects under the President of the Republic of Belarus was held at the NAS of Belarus. The meeting was attended by senior officials, managers, specialists of state bodies, regional executive committees of the country, and specialized organizations. The issue of integrated development of the peat industry was considered at the meeting of the Council.
Opening the meeting, Chairman of the Council for Strategic Projects Vladimir Gusakov reminded those present that on April 19, 2024, the Council meeting considered the issues of developing the mineral resource base of our country, including the issue of the prospects for the development of the peat industry and the creation of import-substituting industries based on peat. The main approaches have been developed, future directions have been defined, which should be given special attention in terms of peat extraction and use. However, the issues of the peat industry efficiency require more in-depth and comprehensive study. Therefore, this issue has been submitted for consideration by the Council.
"I would like to emphasize that the development of the peat industry is a complex area that requires the interested participation of government bodies and regional executive committees. If we approach it formally, this industry is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Energy, and scientific support is provided by scientists. And with a state approach, at the level of the entire country, peat is a national wealth. This means that it needs to be taken into account and, most importantly, the full economic and related effects need to be calculated. For example, by extracting peat and using it as fuel for cement production, we ensure the operation of the construction industry. But, at the same time, ash waste is a burden on the environment. There is also the issue of peatland reclamation. A major issue is the change in the country's energy balance in the future. What is the place of peat in comparison with hydrocarbons, nuclear and renewable energy? Therefore, we must work out key aspects of the industry’s functioning on a systematic and balanced basis. And offer well-thought-out and calculated solutions,” Vladimir Gusakov emphasized.
A whole range of important issues was considered at the meeting of the Council for Strategic Projects. Thus, Olga Prudnikova, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Belarus, presented a report on the problematic aspects and prospects for the development of the peat industry and the creation of import-substituting industries. Representatives of SPA "Beltopgaz", Vitebsk, Gomel, Brest, Mogilev, Minsk regional executive committees also reported on this issue. Sergei Lysenko, Director of the Institute of Nature Management of the NAS of Belarus, reported on scientific support for peat extraction and processing, development of the mineral resource base, and products with high added value based on peat. Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ministry of Architecture and Construction, the Ministry of Housing and Public Utilities, and Belarusian State Concern for Oil and Chemistry reported on the prospects for using peat raw materials and products based on it in economic sectors. Chairman of the State Property Committee Vitaly Nevera reported on strategic projects on problematic aspects of the seizure and provision of land plots for peat extraction, as well as the construction of facilities necessary for processing and storage. The environmental aspects of the peat industry were also considered, including issues of peatland reclamation, ash recycling and use, and the appliance of peat-based products to improve the ecology of soils and water.
Based on the results of the work, ministries and departments were instructed to finalize the materials presented with an emphasis on the problematic issues discussed at the meeting of the Council on Strategic Projects, and to submit specific proposals for solving the problems raised in the near future.
