OREANDA-NEWS. On September 25, a draft state comprehensive program on modernization of major production funds of the Belarusian energy system, energy saving and increase of the use of local fuel and energy resources for 2010 will be considered at a session of the Council of Ministers’ Presidium chaired by Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky, the Belarusian government press-service reported.

The comprehensive program is the major mechanism on implementing the Energy Security Concept. The program envisages pivotal strategic targets on fuel and energy development, the procedure of their implementation in the near future and for the long-term perspective.

To remind, in 2005, by Decree #399 the Belarusian government adopted the analogous state program on modernizing major production funds of the Belarusian energy system for 2006-2010. Within the program the state modernized and increased capacities at the Lukoml State District Power Plant, Baranovichi and Belarusian CHP-plants, mini CHP-plant Severnaya in Grodno. Several energy facilities were fitted with equipment working on peat and charcoal. The Bobruisk CHP-plant installed a boiler burning accumulated lignin.

At the same time, new economic conditions caused by an increase in prices for energy carriers demanded to reconsider approaches on reaching the aforementioned targets. A necessity to adopt a well-founded strategic decision appeared in order to secure energy security and energy and fuel supply, efficient use of energy capacities and to prevent price disproportions on the domestic energy market. The matter also concerns the use of new fuel and energy resources alternative to natural gas. In this respect the state program is currently under finalization.

The draft state program envisages the implementation of events that will allow to increase the level of energy security of Belarus by modernizing major production funds of the Belarusian energy system and reducing their deterioration by 14.9% as against the 2005 level. The GDP energy intensity by 2010 should go down by 31% as compared to 2005. The use of local, alternative and renewable energy resources will up to 20.5% of the country’s demand.

The new wording of the Energy Security Concept foresees a further growth of energy consumption. In this respect the draft program stipulates a relevant increase of the country’s electric power by 1140.18 MW against earlier envisaged 952.3 MW.