Deterioration of Belarusian power grid down to 40% in 2013

The deterioration of the key assets of the Belarusian power engineering industry will be reduced to 40% in 2013. First Vice Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko attributed the result to the successful implementation of the government program for developing the Belarusian energy industry. The statement was made at the opening of the 18th Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum on 15 August. The forum is taking place in Minsk on 15-18 October, BelTA has learned.

According to Vladimir Semashko, the reduced deterioration of the key assets looks impressive because back in 2001 the deterioration was 60%. In 2012 the deterioration of the key assets of the Belarusian power engineering industry was down to 42.4%. The official said that energy industry specialists believe that 45% is a good figure but if the deterioration of the key assets is 65% and more one should expect breakdowns. “We are fine in Belarus as far as the deterioration is concerned, but there is room for improvement,” said the First Vice Premier.

Other accomplishments of the Belarusian energy industry look impressive, too. With better energy effectiveness in mind, Belarus modernizes major power engineering installations and builds new ones. The latter include the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant as the most significant project. “We are finishing preparations and will soon start the construction work of the main phase,” noted Vladimir Semashko.

As far as the energy consumption of the Gross Domestic Product is concerned, Belarus looks good in comparison with neighboring countries. In 2011 the indicator stood at 214kg of oil equivalent per $1,000 worth of merchandise. In the 1990s the GDP energy intensity was 690kg of oil equivalent per $1,000 worth of merchandise. Thus, within 20 years Belarus’ GDP energy intensity has been reduced by more than three times. At present Belarus steers towards performance figures of countries with comparable climate conditions. “If, for instance, the GDP energy intensity in Canada is 200kg of oil equivalent per $1,000 worth of merchandise, then we should be able to secure that figure, too,” stated the First Vice Premier of Belarus.

The growing use of local fuels plays a major role in raising the energy effectiveness of the Belarus economy. New heat power plants are built in Belarus to burn local fuels (wood chips, peat, lignin) instead of natural gas and fuel oil. A number of hydropower plants are being built. Wind and solar energy is used more often. “If compact cogeneration plants that burn local fuels look effective now with present natural gas prices and already compete with major cogeneration plants that burn natural gas, it is apparent that such energy sources will become more appealing as prices for natural gas rise across the globe,” said Vladimir Semashko.

The Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum is meant to highlight modern achievements of science and technology in the area of power engineering, energy saving, automation, electronics, environmental protection, and the use of renewable energy sources. It will be open for four days. The event has been arranged in line with Belarus Prime Minister instruction No. 221r of 7 August 2013.