OREANDA-NEWS. February 26, 2008. In 2008 Br3,8 trillion will be channelled into modernisation of the energy industry and energy saving in Belarus, reported the Official website www.government.by.

The money is envisaged for the implementation of the state programme for modernisation of basic production assets of the Belarusian power grid, energy saving and raising the share of locally available fuel and energy resources in the total utilisation till 2011. The measures to be taken this year in order to execute the programme have been adopted by Council of Ministers resolution No 261 of February 22.

In 2008 Br3,808 trillion will be allocated for executing the programme, with Br1,307 trillion apportioned for modernising the energy system. Br2.501 trillion will be channelled into energy saving, including Br565 billion to be spent on raising the share of local energy resources.

In 2008 companies of the Energy Ministry will commission power-generating facilities with the total output of 299MW, while companies of Belneftekhim concern, the Industry Ministry, the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services and other industries will commission power-generating facilities with the total output of 98MW.

In 2008 the country’s energy saving is expected to make at least 1,4 million tonnes of oil equivalent. The utilization of local fuels is supposed to go up to 4,26 million tonnes of oil equivalent.

This year companies of the Energy Ministry will complete five investment projects for building power-generating facilities. By April Lukoml State District Power Station will complete modernising energy unit No 2. The project will result in saving 15,000 tonnes of oil equivalent annually or $1,8 million. In May Gomel cogeneration plant No 2 will commission a 4MW turbine expander. In August Lida cogeneration plant will commission a 25MW gas turbine plant. In October Minsk cogeneration plant No 3 will commission a 230MW steam gas power unit, which utilisation will allow saving up to 150,000 tonnes of oil equivalent annually or around $18 million. In late 2008 a 25MW gas piston power plant is supposed to be put into operation in a boiler house in Zhlobin.

The complex of measures also envisages fulfilling the necessary work at energy installations, which are supposed to go online in accordance with the state complex programme in 2009-2010.

In 2008 174,8 km of heating networks will be replaced in Belarus, with 2,200 km of power lines built and rebuilt. In 2008 three new power substations will be built and seven existing 100kV substations will be rebuilt in Minsk in order to provide power supply to new households.