Lukashenko urges to decide on HPP projects shortly

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko gave an instruction to determine the volume of construction of hydroelectric power plants (HPP) in Belarus in the near future during his visit to the Grodno HPP on 14 November, BelTA has learned.

Energy Minister of Belarus Vladimir Potupchik informed the President that there are 45 hydroelectric power plants in the country. Belarus’ national program of HPP construction for 2011-2015 envisaged the construction (renovation) of 33 hydroelectric power plants. In 2011-2013 the program stipulated the commissioning of 16 facilities with the total capacity of 18.7MW. In 2013 the output of existing hydroelectric power plants reached 136.7 million kWh. This amount is 2.8 times bigger than that of 2010.

The Energy Ministry is planning to implement three projects as part of the program. In particular, there are plans to build the Polotsk HPP with the capacity of 21.75MW and the Vitebsk HPP with the capacity of 40MW on the Zapadnaya Dvina River, the Neman HPP with the capacity of 20MW on the Neman River. Apart from the projects included in the program, the Energy Ministry is going to build the Beshenkovichi HPP, the Verkhnedvinsk HPP and a hydroelectric power chain on the Dnieper River.

It is necessary to keep in mind that HPPs have a payoff period. Taking into account the possible increase in gas prices, hydroelectric power plants will be of huge importance for the Belarusian energy system.

Alexander Lukashenko remarked that he was the initiator of building HPPs in flat lands. At the same time he stressed: “But if we do not get satisfactory results in the near future, we will think what to do next. If we had extra money, why not to invest it there? In present-day conditions we have to decide whether it makes sense to build this number of power plants,” the head of state said.

However, he noted that it is a good idea to build hydroelectric power plans. “It is needed for the preservation of the HPP construction school as we will not have to restore it in the future. But the main thing is to decide if we need to build this volume,” the President said.

According to First Vice Premier Vladimir Semashko, the construction of HPPs makes sense in view of the possible increase in gas prices. Energy Minister Vladimir Potupchik also believes that Belarus will get a comprehensive effect from building hydroelectric power plants in the future. Alexander Lukashenko gave an instruction to make a thorough of the issue taking into account the economic efficiency of the efforts to ramp up the hydroelectric power production in Belarus.