Nuclear power plant to possibly reduce Belarus' natural gas import from Russia

MINSK, 8 October (BelTA) – Belarus may import less natural gas from Russia due to the launch of its own nuclear power plant, BelTA learned from Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich during the Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum on 8 October.

While speaking about plans to import Russian natural gas in 2020 taking into account the commissioning of the first unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, the official noted that Belarus may import less than this year (some 20 billion m3).

According to Viktor Karankevich, commercial entities are working to prepare the contract on importing natural gas from Russia to Belarus in 2020. “I can tell you one thing: the effective agreements on gas industry provide for fully satisfying Belarus' demand for natural gas. It was done in previous years. It will be done in 2020, too,” the energy minister said.

Speaking about specific import figures for the next year, Viktor Karankevich remarked calculations are being made.