BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

21/08/2007

Belarus cannot develop without nuclear power industry-minister

MINSK, August 21 (Itar-Tass) - Belarus cannot develop without a nuclear power industry, said Belarussian Economics Minister Nikolai Zaichenko.

"Taking into account the situation, developing in relations with Russia and the cost of gas, which will rise, generation of electricity becomes very expensive," he said commenting on the agenda of a meeting of the presidium of the Belarussian cabinet, which took place on Tuesday. Zaichenko noted at the same time that 96 percent of power in the republic is generated by heat and power stations, using gas as fuel.

"As a result," the minister continued, "we lose competitiveness on tariffs for the real sector of the economy. Therefore, we lose competitiveness of industry and the economy as a whole. That is why we cannot do without such sources as a nuclear power industry," Zaichenko emphasised.

The meeting of the cabinet's presidium examined a plan of measures to implement the directives of President Alexander Lukashenko "Economy and thrift are the main factors of the state's economic security".

It is planned for instance that the country will cut power intensity by 31 percent in the gross domestic product by 2010 and by 50 percent in 2015. It is planned for this purpose to impose for enterprises as an obligatory measure indicators for power saving and to set up measures of encouragement and responsibility for managers for efficient consumption of energy resources.

Over 250 innovation and investment projects are also aimed at cutting down energy consumption. Besides, Belarus will work out a programme for involving reusable energy sources in the fuel and energy balance of the republic. Special attention will be given to implementation of the construction project of nuclear power stations in the country.

Source:

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11806758&PageNum=0