Government slammed for failure to reach energy efficiency targets

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko criticized the government for the failure to reach the energy efficiency targets. The Belarusian leader made this statement at his annual State of the Nation Address to the Belarusian people and the National Assembly on 19 April.

“The Government should ensure a prompt implementation of the most promising projects in energy efficiency at every stage of production, processing, transformation, transportation and final consumption of energy resources. Today we have nothing to be proud of. We made a bad start. The major goals in the sector have been failed. I warn you: the goals we have outlined for the ongoing five-year period must be fulfilled,” the President noted.

The head of state stressed that it is necessary to slim down the GDP energy intensity by 29-31% as against 2010. This year’s target is a 7% reduction.

More attention should be paid to the development of renewable energy sources, increasing the share of domestic energy resources. “The task is to step up an annual increase in the use of local fuels and by the end of the five-year period reach a 30% mark in the production of electric and heat energy using national resources. This will guarantee our energy security,” he stressed. We should not forget that splurge, mismanagement, and inappropriate use of funds make a heavy burden on the prime cost of the product, worsen the economic health of a company and does a serious damage to the state, Alexander Lukashenko said.

Inspections by financial watchdogs have shown that there are still cases when imported equipment purchased for big money stands idle for years. Typical is the situation when some businesses import scrap metal, while others have piles of these valuable materials.

"But what frustrates people most is when some chief of a company that is steeped in debt preaches austerity, then buys himself an expensive foreign car, decorates home or office," said Alexander Lukashenko. To prevent such cases, the President recently took decisions.

The success of economic modernization relies not only on creation of new facilities. Economical, prudent policy in the traditional industries is also an integral part of modernization, stressed the President. This year is the year of frugality. Starting a large-scale modernization of the economy, we first need to ensure careful and rational use of material, financial, and labor resources in all areas. Without that any effort is doomed to failure, said the President.