OREANDA-NEWS. August 21, 2007. Belarus needs to develop alternative energy, Economy Minister Nikolai Zaichenko said when answering a question as to what role the nuclear power plant is going to play in ensuring energy security of the country. Session of the Council of Ministers’ Presidium focused on the pan of actions to implement Directive #3 “Economy and thrift are the main factors of the country’s economy security”, reported the Official website http://www.government.by.

Nikolai Zaichenko said that Directive #3 pursues two main goals. First of all, this is to reduce the GDP energy intensity by 31% by 2010, 50% - by 2015, 60% by 2020. Secondly the local fuels should account for 25% of the energy balance of the country. “Along with other scheduled measures we should also tap into the potential of alternative energy,” the minister believes.

According to him, the modern-day relations with Russia show that gas-generated electrical power is getting more expensive. As a result the Belarusian products become less competitive in the world market. “Therefore we will not do without nuclear power. The strategic decision relating to this issue has been taken. The practical measures are in the works now,” Nikolai Zaichenko said.