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Lukashenko: Belarus must boost energy independence even higher by 2030
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MINSK, 18 December (BelTA) – Belarus must boost its energy independence even higher by 2030, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in his Address to the Belarusian people and the Parliament on 18 December, BelTA has learned.
The Belarusian president noted that energy is a guarantor of economic development and a matter of the state’s self-sufficiency. “Belarus’ advantages in this regard are obvious. The completed nuclear power plant has seriously strengthened our energy independence. But by 2030, we need to boost this level even higher,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The Belarusian leader noted that the plant’s capacity has allowed for the modernization of the corresponding infrastructure and stimulated the development of electric transport. “During this time, we had 2 million square meters of new electrified housing. Modern Belarusian electric buses operate not only in Minsk and regional centers but also in ‘experimental districts’: Zhodino, Shklov, Novopolotsk,” the head of state cited examples.
He emphasized that the government and regional governors need to replicate this model across the country. “Get comfortable and reliable electric buses running to satellite towns, but don’t wipe out the minibuses! I want all those TikTokers to hear me as well. I have never been against a person’s, a citizen’s free choice of how to get around: by minibus or by bus. But when I see lines of people and get complaints directly from citizens, I cannot ignore it. We have promptly produced a large number of gas-fueled buses, internal combustion engine buses, electric buses and launched them. Choose whatever you like,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president called the reliability of energy facilities the most urgent issue. “The Energy Ministry should immediately start building power lines of all classes, as well as substations with a reasonable reserve capacity. That is, the nuclear power plant will be generating energy, but we won’t be able to deliver this product to the population. To put it plainly, the wires are old, and the substations are bad: they simply can’t cope with the electricity demand of some district or village,” the head of state said.
At the same time, he stated that the ongoing modernization will strictly adhere to the established procedure for tariff increases for the population and businesses. “People are used to it. It used to be $5 per year, now it’s half the base value, Br21. There will be no spikes here. And I want to warn the government. Don’t even open the door to those energy specialists who come to you and say: ‘We can’t make ends meet, the cost is higher than the price.’ Well, then work to make the cost lower,” he assured.
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