After the nuclear power plant goes online, Belarus will be ready to export electricity to Poland and Ukraine. Belarusian Energy Minister Vladimir Potupchik made the relevant statement on the air of the TV channel Belarus One on 24 December.
The official believes that after the Belarusian nuclear power plant is commissioned, economic efficiency will put everything in order and it will be profitable for Lithuania to buy electricity at market prices. At present Belarusian electricity is absolutely competitive, he believes. “We expect to step up work with Poland. We are ready to work with Ukraine,” added the energy minister.
Apart from that, Belarus intends to sell electricity on the common electricity market of the Eurasian Economic Union.
Vladimir Potupchik reminded that the Belarusian power grid will consume half as much natural gas after the nuclear power plant goes online. “The nuclear power plant will allow us to spend 5 billion m3 of natural gas less on generating electricity. At present the Belarusian energy system consumes some 11 billion kWh of electricity. In other words, we will save virtually half of the current natural gas volume by using the nuclear power plant to generate electricity,” explained the energy minister.
Speaking about prices for electricity after the nuclear power plant goes online, Vladimir Potupchik confirmed that for now Belarusian energy industry specialists use the previous calculations, which put electricity prices at 7.25 cents per kilowatt-hour. “It is the reference point we aim for,” he noted.
At present Belarusian households pay 85% of the cost of electricity, 18% of the cost of heating services, and 40% of the cost of natural gas. Belarusian households are expected to pay 100% of the prime cost of electricity in 2018. “As for heating services, we will gradually move in order to achieve 100% recovery of the costs,” reminded Vladimir Potupchik.
