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VITEBSK DISTRICT, 31 July (BelTA) – A solemn ceremony to close the contract on building the Vitebsk hydropower plant on the Zapadnaya Dvina River took place in Vitebsk District. Representatives of the Vitebsk Oblast administration, the local electric company, and the Chinese general contractor took part in the ceremony, BelTA has learned.

During the ceremony Vitebsk Oblast Vice Governor Vladimir Belous noted that a significant contribution to the development of small-scale energy industry in Belarus and to the utilization of renewable energy sources was made one year ago when the Vitebsk hydropower plant was commissioned.

According to the source, the Vitebsk hydropower plant is the country’s most powerful hydropower plant. It comprises four turbines with the total output of 40MW. Its designed annual output is supposed to satisfy needs of all consumers in Vitebsk District. More than ten design, construction, and installation companies were involved in the project’s implementation. The power plant saves over 40,000 tonnes of oil equivalent every year. The Vitebsk hydropower plant construction project is not the first experience of cooperation with Chinese companies. The ninth combined-cycle power unit of the Lukoml state district power plant built by China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) was commissioned in 2014.

Belarusian-Chinese cooperation in building homes continues. Four residential homes with 276 apartments are being built in Vitebsk, Lepel, Polotsk, and Novopolotsk. Chinese companies have upgraded Orsha Linen Mill. In H1 2018 Chinese companies submitted investment offers to build large dairy farms, animal feed mills, meat-processing plants, and tourism complexes.

Mikhail Luzin, Director General of the Vitebsk Oblast electric company Vitebskenergo, told media that as of today the Vitebsk hydropower plant is maintained fully by Belarusian specialists. If any problems are encountered, the Chinese side is ready to help deal with them. There are plans to call a tender later on. If the Belarusian side finds the prices satisfactory, partners from China will also provide aftersales service.

Mikhail Luzin said: “The contract provided for one year of warranty service. In this period we learned how to operate in winter, in floods together with the Chinese partners. Our partners have honored all their commitments. Today we’ve signed the papers certifying the closure of the contract.”

Zhang Yanfei, President of China National Electric Engineering Company (CNEEC), thanked Belarusian energy industry specialists, various companies and organizations for cooperation and the Embassy of China in Belarus for support. He assured that all the work had been done superbly.

The Vitebsk hydropower plant construction contract closure ceremony ended with the Chinese side handing over a symbolic key to the Belarusian side.

It took five years to build the Vitebsk hydropower plant. The Vitebsk Oblast electric company Vitebskenergo started implementing the investment project in 2012, with CNEEC acting as the general contractor. The project cost $189 million. The new hydropower plant allows reducing the consumption of imported natural gas.

The Vitebsk hydropower plant is manned by 29 people, including ten people operating the facility 24/7. The Belarusian personnel learned the experience from the Chinese colleagues.

The Vitebsk hydropower plant is designed to generate 138 million kWh per year. The power plant has generated over 164 million kWh since its commissioning. The solid output is attributed to favorable weather and good water inflow into the Zapadnaya Dvina River.