OREANDA-NEWS. December 13, 2012. The Belarusian government is ready to sell no more than 15% in state-owned potash producer Belaruskali, Belarusian First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko said on Friday.

“We could consider 10%–15% for sale so far,” Semashko said at a news conference.

“Belaruskali is one of our leading enterprises from the standpoint of earning currency. For us, it is like oil and gas for Russia,” he said.

Semashko said that potential buyers understand the high profitability of Belaruskali. Our approaches have been announced by our president. If someone thinks that Belaruskali is worth no less than USD 30 billion, come to us, and we will bargain,” he said.

On November 12, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that he believed the value of Belaruskali could increase to USD 36 billion.

In mid-2011, Lukashenko estimated Belaruskali at USD 30 billion.

In October 2011, Lukashenko said that Belarus plans to keep a controlling stake in Belaruskali, in which unspecified stakes were planned to be sold to investors.