10 March 2008
Belarus to start Russia’s energy imports March 10
Belarus will start importing the Russian electric energy from March 10, BelTA learnt from Pavel Yakubovich, the general director of Belenergo Company. Pavel Yakubovich noted that the main contract with the Russian Inter RAOUES on Belarus’ imports of 2 billion kilowatt per hour of electric energy in 2008 had already been signed. The two sides are set to sign an additional contract on Belarus supplies with up to 3 billion kilowatt per hour of Russian electric energy. Thus, Belarus plans to import nearly 5 billion kilowatt per hour of Russia’s electric energy. “All the issues have been settled. The two parties complete the preparation of the documents. The second contract is to be signed by March 12,” Pavel Yakubovich said. He noted that the second contract is more flexible. “We are able to choose the amount provided in the document taking into account the need of the country, price and other factors,” the Belenergo general director explained. From the beginning of 2008 Belarus did not import electric energy from Russia as the two sides were in talks about the cost of the deliveries. In 2007 Belarus imported 3.6 billion kilowatt per hour of the Russian electric energy. The Belarusian energy system with the total capacity of more than 7.8 thousand megawatt is able to satisfy the needs of the country in electric energy. At the same time it is quite profitable for Belarus to import a part of electric energy to keep less efficient capacities in reserve.