Republic

Alexander Lukashenko wants higher efficiency of Belarus energy industry

MINSK, May 12 (BelTA) – The energy industry of Belarus should raise production efficiency, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said as visited Minsk CHP No 3 on May 12, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service. . Alexander Lukashenko commissioned the Presidential Administration with a task to find out and report why the efficiency of Minsk CHP is about the same as that of a German CHP though the equipment cost and salaries are lower than in Western Europe, and the equipment quality is just the same. During the visit, the President took stock of the implementation of the state integrated programme on upgrading the major production facilities of the Belarusian energy system. In 2006-2008, the capital consumption of the Belarusian energy system was reduced by 7%, the number of accidents in heat networks dropped 34% and in power networks 26.5%. Over this time almost 900,000 tonnes of fuel equivalent was saved (or $135 million), 267,500 tonnes of imported fuel equivalent was substituted. Provided all the projects are implemented, 727.2 megawatt of electrogenerating capacities will be commissioned by 2011 which will help save about 320,000 tonnes of fuel equivalent (or $42 million a year). About 70,000 of imported fuel and energy resources will be substituted; the reliability of heat and electricity supply will rise. According to First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko, despite the global crisis, all the targets of the programme will be implemented in time. Belarus actively implements projects to raise the efficiency of the primary fuel. As for Minsk CHP No 3, the plant is equipped with cutting-edge facilities. When the new gas-steam cycle was introduced, the efficiency coefficient rose from 30% to 53%. This helps significantly reduce energy production cost. Apart from that, the energy consumption of the plant dramatically dropped: the specific fuel consumption at similar plants constructed in the 1960-1970s was 270g per 1 kWh, while at Minsk CHP No 3 this index is just 168. The same pertains to the plant in Beryoza; in 2010, Minsk CHP No 2 will be inaugurated; the biggest power unit with the capacity of 400 megawatt will be launched at Minsk CHP No 5 in 2011. All in all, the implementation of the state integrated programme on upgrading the major production facilities of the Belarusian energy system will result in the commissioning of capacities worth 1150 megawatt. Alexander Lukashenko got familiar with the technical upgrading of Minsk CHP. According to the First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus, the country is interested in external borrowing to implement energy projects. For example, the Chinese loan worth EUR52 million which was granted to Belarus on very favourable terms helped modernize Minsk CHP No 2. Apart from that, in the near future Belarus will receive a EUR280 million Chinese loan to upgrade Minsk CHP No 5. “Almost all the issues related to loans have already been settled,” Vladimir Semashko said. At present, the modernization of Belarusian energy system is financed mainly by proprietary funds of enterprises and bank loans. Br 3241.4 billion including Br278.1 billion of foreign investments were put in the revamping of the production facilities of the energy system in 2006-2008.

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