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Belarus’ nuclear power plant expected to help replace 4.5bn m3 of gas
MINSK, 8 October (BelTA) – The commissioning of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP) will make it possible to replace about 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas annually, as well as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 7 million tonnes per year, Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich said at a meeting with the team of the Minsk Cable Networks branch of Minskenergo, BelTA learned from the press service of the Energy Ministry.
The construction of the nuclear power plant is an important milestone for the energy sector, Viktor Karankevich noted. He named promising applications of the electric power to be generated by the BelNPP. Among them are electric transport, heating and hot water supply in the housing stock.
The minister named the key outcomes of the energy sector upgrade effort in Belarus. For example, over the past ten years, 25 power plants have been renovated, approximately 3,000MW or about 30% of the country’s electricity generating capacities have been built or upgraded. The largest of them are Lukoml State District Power Plant and Beryoza State District Power Plant, Minsk CHP-5. There are plans to increase the use of local fuels and build renewable electricity generating facilities. A wind farm in Novogrudok District, the Grodno, Vitebsk and Polotsk hydroelectric power stations were put into operation. A lot of work was done to upgrade and build electrical substations, high-voltage and distribution power lines, the total length of which is currently about 280,000km.
In 2011- 2019, the upgrade effort helped reduce the total gas consumption by about 6 billion cubic meters and to save $900 million in equivalent.
Viktor Karankevich also answered questions of Minsk Cable Networks employees about the epidemiological situation in the organizations of the Energy Ministry, projects related to digitalization of power facilities, and personnel training.
“Meetings with labor collectives offer an opportunity to assess the situation on the ground, to see how the technological process is organized, answer questions and address issues voiced by workers,” the minister added.
The minister was updated on manufacturing and economic activities of Minsk Cable Networks and toured some facilities of the enterprise.
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