Foreign investors for diamond surveys in Belarus

Foreign investors may be invited to search for diamonds in Belarus in the future. The information was released by Mr Vladimir Varaksa, Director of the Geology Department of the Belarusian Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry, at the press conference on 4 April, BelTA has learned.

There is always hope to find gold and diamonds, including in Belarus, said the official. There are certain prerequisites that justify the hope. Meanwhile, in physical terms the geological prospecting work to find diamonds and precious metals in Belarus, primarily gold, has been reduced in the last few years. The official attributed it to objective reasons. “These days we prioritize the need to find fuel and energy resources as well as the resources to satisfy the constantly growing demand of the developed production sector. I mean construction materials, the potash industry”.

Nevertheless, geological prospecting work is carried out. In particular, this year airborne magnetic surveys for the sake of finding magnetic anomalies, presumably of the pipe type, will be resumed. No breccia pipes have been found in Belarus recently but prospects do exist. However, massive investments in geological prospecting work are required, said Vladimir Varaksa.

“Today’s prospecting requires a lot of money. Therefore, the possible involvement of foreign companies to survey Belarus, including surveys for diamond deposits, is an option for the future,” said the official.