Business news

MINSK, 13 July (BelTA) – The Belarusian energy company Belorusneft has become the state operator in charge of setting up a network of charging stations for electric cars in Belarus. The company intends to set up an extensive network of car charging stations by 2024, Belorusneft representatives told BelTA in the wake of the presidential decree on encouraging the use of electric vehicles.

Belorusneft will have to create the infrastructure to allow owners of electric cars to charge and operate their vehicles without problems.

The number of Belorusneft’s car charging stations will reach 100 as early as late 2018. More than 40 car charging stations will be deployed in Minsk. Owners of electric cars will be able to easily cross Belarus along the main motorways in 2019. By 2024 the company intends to cover the country with an extensive network of car charging stations, enabling the transit of electric transport along Belarusian roads. At present Belorusneft operates 18 car charging stations.

Belorusneft Deputy Director General for Construction, General Affairs, and Ideology Andrei Kotik reminded that the company started paying attention to electric car charging in 2012 when electric cars started gaining popularity. “The decision to explore this field looks logical for us since we position Belorusneft as an energy company, which generates electricity in addition to extracting oil and providing oil industry services. This is why the creation of electric transport infrastructure is a perfect fit for us. Besides, with an extensive network of conventional refueling stations of our own, we can use the petrol stations to offer electric car charging as a new service. The car charging stations will be placed close to shopping centers, business centers, cultural and sport facilities to make car charging convenient for clients,” said Andrei Kotik.

The Belarus president decree on encouraging the use of electric cars stipulates a number of measures designed to invigorate the demand for electric cars and create the charging and service infrastructure.