Belarusian power grid to reduce natural gas consumption to 4bn m3 thanks to nuclear energy

MINSK, 19 December (BelTA) – The Belarusian power grid will reduce natural gas consumption to 4 billion m3 after two units of the Belarusian nuclear power plant are commissioned, BelTA learned from Director General of the national electric company Belenergo Pavel Drozd on 19 December.

The executive said: “The country consumes about 20 billion m3 of natural gas on the whole while the power grid consumes 10 billion. Once the two units of the Belarusian nuclear power plant are commissioned, the amount of gas consumed by the power grid will drop to 4 billion.”

In turn, while commenting on how the power grid's reduced natural gas consumption will affect the overall gas consumption in Belarus, Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail Mikhadyuk reminded that a program is being implemented in Belarus to increase electricity consumption due to the launch of the nuclear power plant. “A number of measures are being taken in the country to increase electricity consumption. We have to avoid using natural gas wherever it is possible,” Mikhail Mikhadyuk noted.

The official added that experts believe that the overall amount of natural gas consumed by the Belarusian economy may drop to 5 billion after the Belarusian nuclear power plant is commissioned.