Belarus’ energy efficiency efforts are commendable

The efforts of Belarus to improve energy efficiency and the results achieved are an example to follow by other countries, UN/UNDP Resident Coordinator in Belarus Sanaka Samarasinha said at the international conference on energy conservation and efficiency held in Minsk as part of the 18th Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum, BelTA has learnt.

Mr. Sanaka Samarasinha noted that Belarus’ level of the rate of reducing the GDP energy intensity is one of the most tangible results of these efforts. According to him, in terms of this criterion and the complex approach to energy conservation, Belarus is a leader among the neighboring countries. Mr. Sanaka Samarasinha said that the UN/UNDP Office in Belarus also promotes energy efficiency in the country through joint projects. The Belarusian side demonstrates interest in such projects and the cooperation is very fruitful.

The project “Improving Energy Efficiency in Residential Buildings in the Republic of Belarus” that was jointly conducted with the Energy Efficiency Department of the State Service for Standardization of Belarus is an example of this cooperation. According to Mr. Sanaka Samarasinha, such cooperation will continue and several similar projects are underway at the moment.

According to the data provided at the forum, over the last two decades Belarus’ GDP energy intensity has decreased almost three times since the early 1990s and now stands at 214kg of oil equivalent per $1,000.

Mr. Sanaka Samarasinha praised the considerable achievements in energy efficiency in the Belarusian energy and manufacturing industries. He also underlined the necessity to promote energy technologies more aggressively especially among households.

The 4th international conference “Energy conservation and promotion of energy efficiency. Energy efficiency in residential sector. Trends. Practical experience” has been organized by the Energy Efficiency Department jointly with the UN/UNDP Office in Belarus. The event is co-located with the 18th Belarusian Energy and Ecology Congress taking place in Minsk and Grodno on 16-19 October and is part of the Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum. The forum also features EnergyExpo 2013. This year the expo has gathered over 360 enterprises and organizations from 18 countries. Belarus’ chairmanship in the CIS gives special importance to the forum.