MINSK, 30 August (BelTA) – Two million tonnes of peat has been extracted in Belarus in 2023, Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich told reporters, BelTA has learned.
“By today, about two million tonnes of peat has been extracted, or 86% of the plan for 2023, which is 2.3 million tonnes. Some 505,000 tonnes of briquettes and dried peat have been produced. The country's needs for peat products are met in full,” noted Viktor Karankevich.
He emphasized that the industry is experiencing a robust growth. Belarus is the world's biggest producer of peat and peat briquettes. About two million tonnes of peat is extracted in the country annually. Belarus produces 1.2 million tonnes of peat products, including about 1 million tonnes of the fuel group peat, which makes it possible to replace more than 450 million cubic meters of natural gas per year. Peat accounts for about 15% of local fuels used in Belarus.
“We are working hard to diversify sales markets and to broaden the product assortment. We are trying to establish a foothold in the Asian market, in particular, in China. The first train carrying peat products was sent to China last year. The second train left for China literally this week. This work will continue,” he said.
In addition to traditional areas of work, peat plants also implement import-substitution projects. Last year, the Berezovskoye peat briquette producer, an affiliate of Brestoblgas, launched production of substrate for Portobello mushrooms. The new facility can make 40,000 tonnes of substrate per year.
