The priority directions and main objectives of development of the chemical and petrochemical branches are:

1. modernization of the production facilities and improvement of the product quality;
2. creation of new kinds of competitive products;
3. expansion of the export.

The long-term plan of innovative development of Belneftekhim Concern for the years 2007-2010 includes the 23 measures which are the most important ones for the branch and aimed at the creation of the new facilities and reconstruction (modernization) of the operating ones with the use of the advanced technologies and equipment from the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, Netherlands and Czechia, including the:

1. Introduction of the delayed coking process at Naftan Open Joint-Stock Company;
2. Construction of alkylation complexes, facilities for production of benzene and para-xylene, plants for hydraulic desulfurization of gasoline from catalytic cracking, isomerisation, hydraulic hydrogenetive refining of diesel fuel at Mozyr Oil Refinery Open Joint-Stock Company;
3. creating the production of polyester base for roofing materials using the spinneret method, bicomponent fibres, high-strength and high-modulus technical polyester threads of the HM and HMLS types, high-strength and low-shrinkage technical threads of the HT and LS types and nonwoven fabrics using thermal bonding method at Mogilevkhimvolokno Open Joint-Stock Company;
4. Construction of the shop for impregnation and treatment of fabrics, plants for simultaneous moulding, drawing and winding of technical polyamide threads, organization of the production of polyamide roving thread and ПА-6.6 technical thread for cord fabric at Grodno Khimvolokno Open Joint-Stock Company;
5. Creation of the production of superlarge-size radial tyres with all-metal cord at Belshina Open Joint-Stock Company;
6. Creating the shop for single-process production of glass fibre at Polotsk-Steklovolokno Open Joint-Stock Company;
7. Organization of production of paraffin from gatch at Mineral Wax Plant Open Joint-Stock Company;
8. Reconstruction of the Carbamide-3 shop at Grodno Azot Open Joint-Stock Company;
9. Technical re-equipment of the production of phthalic anhydride at Lakokraska Open Joint-Stock Company.

Besides, the production of the Roundup nonselective-action glyphosate-containing preparation, the use of which is highly efficient when preparing the soils for sawing the agricultural crops, will be expanded at Gomel Chemical Plant Open Joint-Stock Company on the basis of license agreement with Monsanto Company (USA).

The implementation of the above plan will organize the production of such new kinds of export-oriented products as:

1. petroleum coke;
2. high-octane gasolines;
3. diesel fuel with the sulphur content of not more than 10 ppm;
4. polyester base for roofing materials;
5. bicomponent fibre;
6. technical polyester and anide threads of various purpose;
7. polyester nonwoven fabrics;
8. impregnated cord fabrics;
9. radial tyres with all-metal cord for quarry machinery;
10. petroleum paraffin;
11. granulated carbamide, etc.

The share of the new products of the Concern in the total production volume will be 7 per cent in 2006, 8 in 2007, 9 in 2008, 9.5 in 2009 and 10 per cent in the year 2010.

The participation of the organizations of this Concern in the implementation of the state and interstate scientific and technical programmes is of great importance for the development of the chemical and petrochemical branch. At present, the Programme of Development of Belaruskaliy Production Association Unitary Enterprise for the years 2002-2010 and Programme of Development of Network of Refuelling Stations in the Republic of Belarus for the period till the year 2010, approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus No.349 dated March 30, 2004 (in the edition of the Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 380 dated April 11, 2005) “On the Programme of Development of Network of Refuelling Stations in the Republic of Belarus for the period till the year 2010” (National Register of Legal Acts of the Republic of Belarus, 2004, No.56, 5/14039) are implemented.

Within the years 2006-2010 it is planned to implement the subprogramme “Scientific and Technical Support of the Oil and Chemical Industry” of the State Scientific and Technical Programme “Chemical Technologies and Production Facilities” approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus No.5 dated January 4, 2006 “On the Approval of the List of State Scientific and Technical Programmes for the years 2006-2010” (National Register of Legal Acts of the Republic of Belarus, 2006, No. 6, 5/17078).

Within the framework of the above subprogramme, it is planned to implement the following measures:

1. Expansion of the raw materials base for producing the mineral fertilisers and the range of the output products;
2. Carrying out the researches, development and the introduction of new resource-saving technologies of open cast mining when stocking the potassium production waste;
3. Development and mastering of the technology of producing the fluorite for the metallurgical-profile enterprises at Gomel Chemical Plant Open Joint-Stock Company;
4. Development of the water treatment system at the enterprises of the oil and chemical industry on the basis of inorganic composite materials and manufacture of modular plants for complex treatment of water;
5. Development of the excavating and extracting complex for potassium ores including the combine with a drum working member and self-propelled van as well as organization of their manufacture at the enterprises of the Republic of Belarus.

Within the framework of the programme of the Union State “Creation and Organization of the Full-Scale Production of the Equipment for Manufacturing the Special Man-Made Fibres (2002-2007)” in the edition approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Union State No. 42 dated January 16 2006, the implementation of the following projects is provided for:

1. Development of the technology for producing the Arselon-S fibre for manufacturing the heat-resistant clothes for firemen, tankmen, pilots-rescuers, personnel of the troops of the Ministry of Emergencies and workers of hot shops at Svetlogorsk Khimvolokno Production Association Republican Unitary Enterprise;
2. Creation of the equipment and technology for producing the fine-filament cellulose thread for medical-purpose filtering materials at Svetlogorsk Khimvolokno Production Association Republican Unitary Enterprise;
3. Creation of composites and articles of them on the basis of the Arselon-S fibre for the automobile industry and railway transport with excluding the use of asbestos.

By the year 2010, the implementation of the programme measures will make it possible to increase the share of innovative products in the total volume of the products shipped up to 38 per cent and the share of certified products in the total production volume up to 76.3 per cent and to reduce the degree of wear of the active part of the fixed industrial and production-related assets down to 60 per cent.

The total amount of financing the creation of new enterprises, new facilities at the operating enterprises and modernization of the operating facilities in the years 2007-2010 will be 1,419,481 million roubles, including that from the Republican Budget’s funds to the amount of 153,400 million roubles, bank credits – 70,369 million roubles, loans – 167,323 million roubles and the own funds of the organizations – 1,028,389 million roubles.