Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 24 March (BelTA) - The Government of Belarus would like to expand cooperation with the World Bank and implement new joint projects, Belarus’ Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Kalinin told reporters, BelTA has learned.

For twenty years, the Government of Belarus has been successfully cooperating with the World Bank, implementing joint projects in various sectors of the economy. The total amount of the loans is estimated at $1 billion.

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his appreciation to the World Bank for the support of different sectors of the economy. This interaction provides the possibility of implementing innovative, breakthrough projects demanded by the global economy. “Thus we are reaching a new technological level. Infrastructure development, energy saving, energy efficiency, and environment are our priorities and most topical areas of interaction,” said Anatoly Kalinin.

As an example of the mutually beneficial partnership Anatoly Kalinin mentioned a number of projects in the transport sector. “We have already implemented a project on the international corridor M5. Work is under way on the selection of a general contracting organization for the section on the M6 Minsk-Republic of Poland highway. We are planning to start the project in May,” he informed.

No less important for Belarus are joint projects in energy and energy conservation. These include the construction of a CHP plant in Gomel and Mogilev, and eight mini-CHPs in large district boiler plants in the regions. With the support of the World Bank, Belarus has started using biomass as fuel.

Special attention is given to joint projects in housing and utility services. There are a total of 40 projects, with half of them completed. “Work has been carried out on the improvement of water quality, reduction of the load on the environment,” said Anatoly Kalinin.

Partnership is expanding in the field of recycling of municipal solid waste (MSW). The largest project has been carried out in Grodno. “The government has requested the World Bank to expand this work. We proposed to set up a so-called cluster of MSW recycling in Grodno Oblast. This will help us increase the share of MSW in the form of recyclable materials and fuel up to 70%. For us, this is a landmark project as it will help reduce the load on the environment. We are also negotiating to step up the cooperation in the field of the use of local fuels in boilers and are discussing the prospects of our partnership within the framework of the Clear Water state program,” Anatoly Kalinin informed.