# BelDorNII says Belarus is switching to pure salt instead of sand-salt mixes on its roads

- URL: https://syn.by/en/society/beldornii-says-belarus-is-switching-to-pure-salt-instead-of-sand-salt-mixes-on-its-roads/
- Published: 2026-10-21T12:00:08+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-21T16:27:08+00:00
- Section: Society
- Language: en
- RU edition: https://syn.by/ru/obshchestvo/v-byeldornii-zayavili-o-pyeryekhodye-na-chistuyu-sol-vmyesto-pyesko-solyanykh-smyesyey-na-dorogakh-byelarusi.md
- BE edition: https://syn.by/hramadztva/u-bieldarndi-zajavili-ab-pierachodzie-na-chystuju-sol-zamiest-sumiesiau-piasku-i-soli-na-darohach-bielarusi.md

> According to an institute specialist, pure salt consumption with modern equipment is about 15 grams per square metre. The next steps are moistened salt and brines, but their effectiveness is still being tested.

![](https://syn.by/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/illustration-797-1024x585.webp)

According to Belarusian state media, the country plans to switch in 2026 to treating roads with pure salt instead of sand-salt mixes. The use of sand against ice is also expected to be reduced. For those who drive and walk on Belarusian roads in winter, this means less sand on the carriageway.

These plans were described by Siarhei Kabak, head of the sectoral road laboratory at the Belarusian Road Research Institute (BelDorNII). According to him, the country will switch to pure salt in 2026 and then begin introducing moistened salt.

State media add that mass introduction of moistened salt should begin in 2026, along with the gradual introduction of brines with inhibitors for preventive treatment of roads. It is not yet known in which month of 2026 the mass introduction of moistened salt will begin.

Kabak described the winter maintenance strategy as three consecutive levels. The first is the maximum possible move away from sand in favour of pure salts. By his estimate, their consumption with modern equipment is about 15 grams per square metre, and this is faster and cheaper than sand-salt mixes. The second level is moistening these salts. The third is the gradual introduction of brines with inhibitors, on which laboratory work is continuing.

Moistening, Kabak said, is already being introduced both in city services and in road organisations. He claims that moistened salt reacts with the road surface faster because it contains many active wet ions. Dry salt is often blown to the roadside in strong wind and reacts more slowly with snow deposits.

He calls brines the next stage: research is already under way, and in one of the Avtodors the method has been introduced. A solution with a 22–23 per cent content of ordinary salt, he says, is effective for preventive treatment. It forms a thin film that keeps snow and ice from sticking to the surface, whereas dry salt is hard to clear once melting has begun.

Previously, Kabak said, sand-salt mixes were mostly used, and now the switch to pure chlorides is under way. According to him, this leaves less material on the road, clogs storm drains less and cuts costs. This is the specialist's own assessment; the article offers no calculations to back it up.

He also stated that sand dust ground up by wheels is, from a health standpoint, probably even more harmful than salt.

Sand in the mixes is now being reduced to a minimum in certain temperature ranges. According to Kabak, salt is theoretically effective down to minus 21 degrees, but regulatory documents limit its use to minus 15.

Not all of the innovations work as claimed. Joint experience with the state production association Gorremavtodor of the Minsk City Executive Committee has shown that the declared characteristics of the material have not yet been fully achieved, Kabak reported. Research is continuing, including an assessment of the environmental impact.