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MINSK, 15 November (BelTA) – Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich invited the World Bank to implement an electric car project in Belarus. The idea was voiced when the head of the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament met with World Bank Country Director for Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine Satu Kahkonen and World Bank Country Manager for Belarus Young Chul Kim on 15 November, BelTA has learned.

Mikhail Myasnikovich invited the World Bank representatives to think about the project that features a number of innovations relating to electric cars. The project includes electric cars, modern recharging stations, batteries, and a number of other matters, he explained. It is advisable to implement the project in Belarus considering the country’s transit potential. Apart from that, Belarus has advanced quite far in allied fields such as the production of hybrid buses, trolleybuses, and trams. Besides, specialists able to do the job are available in Belarus, said the speaker of the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament.

Once the Belarusian nuclear power plant goes online, the country will have a surplus of electricity particularly at night. “We could use the fact effectively to charge car batteries and deliver power to recharging stations,” added Mikhail Myasnikovich. The Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus noted that the number of electricity-powered vehicles can increase considerably quite soon.

Mikhail Myasnikovich pointed out that the World Bank had stepped up operation in Belarus. “I would like these positive trends to continue and develop further,” said the senator. He mentioned several proposals concerning the investment projects, which are being implemented in Belarus with assistance of the World Bank. “I’d be delighted if we could consider new global innovative systemic projects as well as industry-specific and inter-industry projects that could be implemented successfully with assistance of the World Bank,” believes Mikhail Myasnikovich. As an example Mikhail Myasnikovich mentioned the World Bank-sponsored project in the Belarusian woodworking industry. As part of the project the entire technological cycle was overhauled, giving a substantial incentive to the development of the national forestry industry.

During the meeting the sides also discussed the possibility of expanding the list of projects, which are implemented in Belarus using grants from the World Bank. “They may be small but they will become the catalyst that will allow new large systemic projects to emerge. It would be kind of venture financing,” suggested the Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus.