Building the Battery Factory. Businessman in an Interview TUT.BY Told about the Business, «goat» and Science
Viktor Lemeshevsky long been a non-public businessman. Although his "First battery company" (PAC) held a significant share in the Belarusian market, and the group of companies 1АК built factories. But the fame he brought not even participate in the project "My business" on the ONT, and the rally of opponents of building a new battery factory near Brest. "The same Lemeshevsky" agreed to tell TUT. BY about how I came into the business, why build a new plant and why the creation of a battery industry, it is important for the country.
"Any big and good company is very clumsy"
Viktor Lemeshevsky graduated from aerospace faculty of Moscow aviation Institute in the early 1990s. "At that time many began to engage in oil and gas, and I had no luck, I began to engage batteries," jokes a businessman.
He began to supply to Belarus and Russia batteries of different segments and price categories. Now distribution network Pack includes 50 commercial facilities in all the major cities of Belarus. The emphasis is on how consumers and industrial enterprises. During such cooperation, the Lemeshevsky, together with partners, "deeply-deeply immersed in the industry and met with almost all the owners and Directors of the Polish, German, Russian and Ukrainian plants." In the end, a tight cooperation has led to the fact that in Pinsk — the home of businessman — was created in conjunction with the American concern Exide Technologies enterprise "Polesie batteries." In 2012 it was renamed "Existemology". The Belarusian side there is 25%.
The main objective of the Pinsk plant is the supply of batteries for so-called OEM market. That is, on Russian pipelines VW, Ford, Renault, Mercedes.
— Exide — cool Corporation. There's no question. But, like any other big and good company, they are very clumsy — said the Lemeshevsky. — Each application there is a special corporate procedure, are all regulated. Often the speed of solving issues within the Corporation can't keep up with rate of change of the market demands. And if it does not affect the market of original equipment, then work on the secondary market such slowness is just a disaster.
In addition, the Belarusian plant has limited sales outside the CIS.
— We were told, Exide Europe has enough of its businesses and the distribution system is already built, so there is no need to sell — still a businessman. In the end we have to place orders under their own brands at factories in Russia and Ukraine. And this products to sell outside the CIS.
Therefore in 2010 decided to establish a national vertically integrated group of companies 1AK-GROUP. The first step of this strategy was the creation in Belaazyorsk the company's metallurgical recovery of lead from spent batterybatery battery "Belinvesttorg-Alloy". This plant helped to clear the country of thousands of tons of lead wastes and waste electrolytes, dispose of them at 99%, the output of the receiving lead and recycled polypropylene. And what used to be waste and problematic waste, the plant becomes the raw material for the production of new batteries.
It is worth saying that before the plant in Belaazyorsk had many opponents.
Now it's if not the best, then one of the best melting plants, which are in Europe — retorted the member of the Council for enterprise development under the President. Competition to get a job, 2 to 4 people in the place. The one who's got to live, feed his family, he for the plant. Because the company is one of the most successful in the region, the salary is above average.
Having its own raw materials — lead, 1AK-GROUP decided to build their battery plant in the FEZ "Brest" "in order to trade around the world" and not be subject to limits on Exide. "I decided to build another plant that would work in the secondary market. Given the fact that we got access to technology, as we work with international corporations, and given the fact that the supply of the enterprise in Pinsk more focused on the primary market," — says the Lemeshevsky.
If there was any objection from the Exide? "I don't know how they will react with envy or with love. We are in the market are. And the market competition. Considering the market locally as Belarus, we long ago grew out of these pants. Now the market for us — world", — said the businessman. He cites the example of Poland, which produces more than 9.5 million starter batteries. And the capacity of the Polish market of about 4 million units. That is 5.5 million they export. The Lemeshevsky claims that already knows whom to sell the Brest batteries in Poland.
"They say China is bad. And Huawei phone is good or bad? And Lenovo computer?"
Currently 1AK-GROUP employs approximately 700 people. Viktor Lemeshevsky calls annual revenue, the company says only that it "is several times greater than the volume of investment" in new plant near Brest.
In the creation of a new company planned to invest $ 26 million. Be financed by the facility will be from several sources. Own resources of the shareholders, and money from the innovation Fund of the Brest region. But the most important source — credit development Bank.
We were looking for long-term borrowed resources. Talked with European banks, with the EBRD, IFC, considered the financing from the manufacturers of the equipment (Germany, Italy, France, Poland). But it turned out that the most interesting funding under our noses. The President "broke" the Chinese long-term credit line of 15 billion dollars. The Bank of development allocates this funding. The interest rate European banks was a little lower. But the length of the loan is very important for us. The loan from the development Bank, involves the deferral of principal repayment from two to four years. It is important to run industrial enterprises.
Many confuse that Chinese loans related. But due to the fact that the degree of relatedness decreased from 75% to 50%, they become more attractive.
— What is 50%? This building and little piece of equipment — responsible Lemeshevsky. — They say that China is bad. And Huawei phone is good or bad? And Lenovo computer? There are good things and bad. High-tech equipment manufactured in China, not inferior to the best world samples, and some of them China is already a world leader. Approximately 10% of the equipment to be installed at the plant will be from China.
I and our engineering services come with a dozen plants where it is installed and operated in Poland, Slovenia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine. We saw him at work, received feedback from the engineers who are working on it. This is quite a high quality and effective equipment. The other 90% of suppliers are from Europe and South Korea.
The General contractor for the construction of a new plant speaks Chinese "Angeliska foreign economic construction Corporation". But 99% of all works will produce Belarusian-Lithuanian company "Alvor". "The Chinese company needs to obtain financing and to comply with the 50%," explains Lemeshevsky. He hoped that the plant near Brest will be commissioned in September this year. 80% of production will be exported.
"The man who is not burdened with knowledge, can throw in the air any horror stories about lead"
In the beginning of the year in Brest held several meetings with the participation of the opponents of the construction of the plant. Bisasman did not expect such a reaction and is very upset by the reaction of the public. Viktor Lemeshevsky wants to reiterate its position on this issue.
— Our processing plant is located in Beloozersk, so we searched the ground near him. This is very reasonable, the transportation costs of shipping raw materials in this case would be minimal, plus in small cities there are preferential tax regimes, he explains. But, unfortunately, the cost of the energy infrastructure would cost us about 10% of the cost of the entire project. To attract investment in the establishment of industrial enterprises of state around the world create special free economic zones, which creates the appropriate infrastructure and preferential tax regimes. Belarus is no exception, the country has the FEZ "Minsk", FEZ "Gomel", "Great stone" and so on. As a result, we chose the free economic zone "Brest", in which there are free sites that meet sanitary and environmental requirements for the construction of a plant for the production of batteries. Let me remind you, our target in the environmental requirements, norms SanPiN should have sanitary-protective zone of 500 metres. And here the nearest residential building is 750 metres away.
Contacting local authorities and the administration of FEZ and received preliminary approval to build the plant, we started the procedure of environmental impact assessment on the environment and only after it passes onreceived permission to conduct design and survey works. All this work took us almost a year, and in the end, after the project of the state construction expertise, we received permission for the construction of the plant. In 2016 there were about ten publications in which it was announced the construction of a new plant, but no dissatisfaction was not.
Initially it was assumed that dissatisfied with the construction of a battery of an enterprise, residents of nearby villages. But the deeper was the dive into these questions, the more open facts about the emergence of new players. This is unprofitable construction of the plant? Enterprises-producers from neighboring countries? Importers of foreign products to the Belarusian market? Battery theme began to play even the candidates for deputies of local councils...
In Poznan battery plant is located in 400-500 meters from the houses. And across the road is a factory Unilever, which produces food products. In Warsaw, the plant is near residential houses over the fence in center. In Zwickau (Germany) battery plant is when compared with Minsk, approximately in the region of Freedom square. It produces 5 million batteries per year. Warsaw, Mielec, resort Austrian Klagenfurt and even a favorite with many Turkish holiday resort of Antalya — there are also factories for the production of batteries. In Brest in the centre of the city is the electric plant (where, in particular, has lead, and mercury), there is a "Brestgazoapparat", and indeed many other industries in the city centre. Historically. The question is not what plants and where they are located, and what solutions they use to reduce the impact on the environment, — the businessman speaks, answering a question on disgruntled new plant in Brest.
— I have knowledge, I, like anyone, value their name, I can be guided only by expert data. It is very difficult to oppose people, not burdened by any knowledge, which initially built its position on the denial of all and are guided by the principles "know nothing and don't want to know what you are doing is bad and everything." These are thrown in the air horror stories about the plant and lead, forming people have phobias. The sad thing is that even educated people who easily for half an hour unable to understand the subject matter, is susceptible to these fictions. The opinion of an expert can be qualified to challenge only another expert. It's hard to imagine the picture that the patient is not having a medical education, would argue with the surgeon as to how best to carry out the operation. Unfortunately, something similar is happening now in Brest.
Businessman and a son, he is 2.5 years. He is afraid of "goat."
— We say if you misbehave, "goat" will come. He doesn't know what a "goat". Later he realizes that the goat is not scary, that's a good animal, the milk yields. And now he's got some image: "the goat" is something terrible. So here: people hear the two words lead and acid, they are afraid, — continues the comparison Lemeshevsky. — Lead and acid are used everywhere. In Brest every other fisherman and hunter. Each home EUbe the lead in the sinkers that doveryaut the bait, the fraction in cartridges. Almost every house has crystal ware, there are new Windows, the house in the garage are the cars with batteries, alarm system and video surveillance, too, can not do without a lead battery. When calculated, almost in every home there are dozens of kilograms of lead. It's part of our life, part of modern civilization. This lead does not care. And then the lead — lead, it's dangerous! Acid is every housewife in the house (vinegar is too acid), it's nothing, safe in the closet there, took a bottle. And here is a horror story, the lead and acid image.
According to international analysts, in the coming decades one of the fastest growing sectors energy — renewable energy and system of accumulation and storage of energy. In the future, 1AK-GROUP has plans for the construction of a plant for the production of traction and industrial batteries for electric vehicles and uninterruptible power supplies. Only the development of enterprises until 2022 and will invest about $ 80 million worth of raw material and the degree of localization will be not less than 90%, said a member of the Council for enterprise development under the President Viktor Lemeshevsky at the December meeting of Alexander Lukashenko with representatives of business circles.
— What is the batteries? It's all around us: cellphones, cameras, cars, uninterruptible power supply fed by batteries. Now Belarus is almost 100% dependent on importtion of the batteries. It is important for the formation of a new industry that is not in the country, but which is in almost every country-neighbor. This is including the country's energy security and military security. Take out the battery from the tank — and you won't get it. And what is the battery power source. Let's buy someone else's battery, not tested, and put it into military things. Managed way it is possible to make so that it will not work.
"The homeland is more interesting to buy imported pumps"
The battery is not the only business interest of Viktor Lemeshevsky. In 2011 1AK-GROUP bought at auction from the state "Pinsk experimental mechanical plant". According to Lemeshevsky, OMZ "feels great". The company 90% of products shipped for export. Every year is invested serious money in equipment upgrades. In 2017 invested about 1 million euros, this year will be approximately 2.5 million Euro. "I see the possibility of development of this asset", — says the businessman.
Now at the enterprise in two shifts and employs more than 130 people. Manufactured pumping equipment. Soon it is planned to launch the analogues of well-known Belarusian pumps Grundfos and Wilo. Unfortunately, only 10% of products delivered to Belarus.
— The home more interesting to buy imported pumps. Why? In 1990-e years the bourgeoisie came to us and said, my God, what you have a bad economy. All energoeffective all wrong. We'll help you sincerely. When you bourgeois genuinely wants to help, he says, here's money, here's the pump, here's a design decision under the pump, which I you sell for my money. You think: my God, what a happy day today! A man came and helped. And then the pump is out of order, and design issues. To change the project design is work. This requires knowledge. Therefore, it is easier to change what is, that is. And so, when we are with their pumps also come, many simply do not want to change existing design solutions and technological equipment that already is. But we are actively working on it and offer design solutions.
Another area of business 1AK-GROUP — design and construction of dairy farms and pig farms.
— There was a certain decline associated with the recession economy. Therefore, the company is going through hard times. We follow the trends that were on the market. The market fell, we fell. Now there has been a rise. We have quite ambitious plans. Will grow, — says the entrepreneur.
Viktor Lemeshevsky does not deny that eyeing the core assets in Russia and Poland. But until the deals is not reached.
— Localization there. We therefore consider the possibility of buying [companies]. Poland is a European Union. Buying the asset is there, we will get the opportunity to sell our products in the West under their brands. What is important for sales.
Along with this Pinsky a businessman invests in startups in Belarus. Area of interest — new technologies for the production of batteries, alternative energy, recycling.</p>
— I want to concentrate in that industry where I was an expert. Is a global industry. Its capacity — hundreds of billions of dollars. In Belarus began to form expert environment. That sounds bad: all the best technology born in the West. Why? Because there are experts. Where are they? There are businesses around which is formed the expert community. They generate new technologies, then these technologies spread throughout the world, including to us.
Often technologies develop Belarusians who have not found employment at home...
— Belarusian brains work around the world — from Russia to America. Why? Because they are of no use. Because here expert community is not formed. Why? Because nothing work: no companies, laboratories. If you will, we will live on their land, will receive good wages, men would not go to work in Poland and Russia, children will learn at home.
Born in the country many talented people, and we, Belarusians, are able to generate new competitive technologies. This should create the expert community. When we started to communicate with BNTU, doctor of physico-mathematical Sciences Kirill Viktorovich Dobrego constantly asked, will build the factory near Brest] the lab. I agreed. He's got a lot of ideas. People from the science, production, and close cooperation is the driving force which will turn Belarus into a prosperous country.