The Kėdainiai phosphate fertiliser plant „Lifosa“, which is not interested in recycling technologies for phosphogypsum waste, is expected to start paying for its disposal from next year, the portal „Verslo žinios“ reported on Wednesday.At present, there is no charge for the disposal of phosphogypsum waste in a landfill site, and it is hoped that the abolition of the benefit will motivate the company to look for other ways to manage this waste.

Tested an invention

According to the portal, Jonas Algimantas Jurgauskas, a doctor of technical sciences, together with his sons Virgilijus and Laimonas, patented an invention in 2022 to recycle phosphogypsum waste into an environmentally friendly mineral aggregate. The invention was reportedly tested, but „Lifosa“ managers were not interested.

Since the shareholder of „Lifosa“, „Eurochem Group“, did not show any interest in the invention, I contacted the Mayor of Kėdainiai and „Invest Lithuania“to look for an investor for the recycling“, – told „Verslo žinios“ that J. A. Jurgauskas.

About 2 million tonnes of phosphogypsum waste are generated

The tax on the disposal of phosphogypsum waste is included in a package of amendments prepared by the Ministry of the Environment and approved by the Government last week. The amendments make producers and importers more responsible for the waste from their products or goods.

Environment Minister S. Gentvilas said at the cabinet meeting that this would specifically affect „Lifosa“, which generates around 2 million tonnes of phosphogypsum waste every year.  

The ministry proposes a tax of €0.5 per tonne from January, rising to €0.75 from 2026 and €1 from 2027. This is estimated to generate an additional €1.2 million for the state budget in 2025, €1.9 million in 2026 and €2.5 million in 2027. 

In its report last year, „Lifosa“ stated that the closure and maintenance of the 129-hectare phosphogypsum landfill site for more than 20 years would cost €6.07 million. 

The company resumed production in June after a year's hiatus.