Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 11 October (BelTA) – Energy has become a driving force behind the economic growth in Belarus, Energy Minister Vladimir Potupchik said at the opening of the Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum on 11 October, BelTA has learned.

“Today we can say that energy has become a driving force behind Belarus’ economic growth. We cannot allow ourselves to stop in our development. We need to search for new technological solutions, create conditions for the implementation of innovative projects, develop research activities in the energy sector, train highly-qualified personnel. I am confident that the forum will help address the abovementioned issues and become another step on the way to their implementation,” Vladimir Potupchik noted.

For more than 20 years the forum has been a unique platform to discuss the issues of present interest in the energy and ecology areas, improve energy efficiency and study the world’s best practices. The event is aimed at the implementation of innovative technology, strengthening of mutually beneficial and long-term cooperation between Belarusian and foreign companies, facilitating foreign investment in the country.

Vladimir Potupchik stressed that the country has been working hard on the energy potential building policy to enhance its energy security. The implementation of two state programs on the modernization of the Belarusian power system resulted in the introduction of nearly 2000MW highly-efficient generating units, considerable enhancement of their operating efficiency, reduction of capital consumption to 40%, and the country’s stronger independence from the import of energy resources.

Belarus keeps the leading position among the CIS countries in gas supply services. Over the past 20 years the country has build four times as many pipelines as there was laid before 1994. Their total length reaches 56,800 kilometers today. Every year more than 30,000 flats are switched to the use of natural gas. As of 1 July 2016 the level of the installation of gas services in flats rose to 73.9%, including up to 33.4% in the rural areas. At least $200 million have been invested in the area on an annual basis in the recent years.

Vladimir Potupchik named the construction of the country’s nuclear power plant the most important national project.