New terminal at Kalija parks opens in February

VENTSPILS (LETA) - A new loading terminal at Kalija parks will launch
its operations in February of 2000, Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs
said.

The second stage of renovation of the joint-stock Kalija parks has
been undertaken at this time during which the second loading terminal
- a quay - will be constructed, as well as the loading mechanism
installed.

In 1999, it is planned to reload 4.6 million tons of potassium salt,
whereas after launching the KP second stage, the volume of cargo
would reach 5.5 million tons per year.

After launching the KP third stage, when a new railroad network will
be constructed, the warehouse capacity is planned at 115,000 tons.

Thereby, the company is planning to reach 7 million tons of cargo loaded.

About $40 million are invested in construction of the terminal,
including both public and private funding.

About 12 percent of Kalija parks shares are owned by the company
Multinord AG, 5 percent by Ventspils City Council, 49.10 percent by
off-shore company Geit.B.V, 33.63percent by Mineral-Transserviss.