OREANDA-NEWS. March 16, 2009. Belarus can apply for an additional loan of the World Bank to finance the Belarus Post-Chernobyl Recovery project.
The WB mission reviewed the progress in the implementation of energy-efficiency projects carried out in Belarus with assistance of the World Bank. These are the Chernobyl recovery projects and social infrastructure retrofitting projects. The WB experts visited the Mogilev and Gomel oblasts and were satisfied with the course of the work.

“The allocation of additional funds for the Chernobyl project is being discussed,” Belinvestenergosberezheniye said. The WB provides such an opportunity. To use it, the local authorities and the energy efficiency department of the State Standardization Service of Belarus need to file an application to the World Bank. The Belarusian side is expected to apply for around USD 20-25 million (up to 50% of the loan which ash already been issued for the Chernobyl project).

The Belarus Post-Chernobyl Recovery Project supported by a USD 50 million loan from the World Bank aims to provide the population residing in the Chernobyl affected area with energy efficient and reliable heat and hot water services in order to improve their living environment. The project is designed to improve energy efficiency through upgrading or replacement of heat production and distribution equipment, and improving thermal insulation and lighting in public buildings in the Gomel, Mogilev and Brest oblasts. About 3,000 houses and apartments will switch to safe gas heating.

A project to develop social infrastructure has recently been completed. The Br22.6 million grant of the World Bank helped modernize 700 facilities serviced by 550,000 people in 116 towns and villages across the country. In 2007, the World Bank provided an additional USD 15 million loan to carry out works at the facilities additionally included in the project.

All in all, the World Bank provided loans worth USD 318 million to finance seven projects in the Republic of Belarus.