Belarus Plans to Spend Around $10bln Before 2011 to Upgrade Power Grid

Nov 16, 2007 - Daily News Bulletin

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has approved a comprehensive program developed by the government to upgrade the fixed assets of the Belarusian power grid, to save energy and to increase the use of its own fuel and energy resources for up to 2011, the president's press service told Interfax.

"The program aims to substantially increase Belarus' energy security by 2011. Total earmarks for all these measures amount to about $9.3-9.9 billion," a press officer said.

The program aims to upgrade the fixed production assets of the Belarusian energy system and to reduce wear and tear by at least 14.9% compared to 2005. It also aims at reducing energy usage by at least 31% to the 2005 level and to increase the share of local, unconventional and renewable energy sources to 20.5% of overall fuel needs.

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