MINSK, 29 January (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia signed a contract for the supply of Russian electricity in 2010, BelTA learnt from spokesperson for the Belarusian Energy Ministry Lyudmila Zenkovich.

Following the talks the sides came to the agreement and signed the electricity supply contract for 2010. On the part of Belarus the document was signed by Belenergo Director General Aleksei Shirma.

MOSCOW, 27 January (BelTA) – Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Igor Sechin will travel to Belarus next week to discuss the cooperation in energy sector, First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko told reporters on 27 January.

Vladimir Semashko said that the two countries have to conclude agreements on the long-term cooperation in gas sector and electricity, and the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus.

MINSK, 25 January (BelTA) – The relations on the global energy market should be built taking into consideration the interests of all its participants, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Minsk on 25 January, BelTA has learnt.

“Belarus believes that the relations on the global energy market should be developed taking into consideration the interests of all the participants – exporters, importers and transit countries.

MINSK, 22 January (BelTA) – Belarus is going to send the spent nuclear fuel (SNF) of the would-be Belarusian nuclear power plant to Russia for reprocessing, Deputy Energy Minister of Belarus Mikhail Mikhadyuk said during the online conference on the BelTA website on 22 January.

“We have already agreed that Russia will take the SNF for reprocessing if Belarus needs it. It is mentioned in the draft agreement that is due to be signed in the nearest future,” Mikhail Mikhadyuk said.

MINSK, 22 January (BelTA) - A new round of talks on the Russian electricity supply and transit is taking place between Belenergo and Inter RAO UES in Minsk on 22 January, BelTA learnt from the press service of the Energy Ministry of Belarus.

According to the Energy Ministry, during the previous negotiations held in Moscow on 14-15 January the two sides almost coordinated the positions on the Russian electricity supply to Belarus and its transit through the Belarusian territory to the Kaliningrad oblast and Baltic states.

MINSK, 22 January (BelTA) – The Energy Ministry of Belarus plans to improve the structure of the energy system management, Deputy Energy Minister of Belarus Mikhail Mikhadyuk said during the online conference on the BelTA website on 22 January.

Several years ago, the reformation of the electric power industry was actively discussed in Belarus. One of the possible ways to upgrade the national electric power industry was the transition from vertically integrated management system to the establishment of structures responsible for the production, sale and transmission of energy.

MINSK, 22 January (BelTA) – In 2010 nearly $610 million will be injected into the development of the Belarusian energy system, Deputy Energy Minister of Belarus Mikhail Mikhadyuk told an online conference hosted by BelTA on 22 January.

In his words, an estimated $2152 million was invested to upgrade and construct a number of energy facilities in 2006-2009. The financing totaled $402 million in 2006, $481 million in 2007, $660 million in 2008 and $609 million in 2009.

MINSK, 22 January (BelTA) – In 2010 the Energy Ministry of Belarus is expected to attract $536 million foreign investments to implement large electric energy projects in the country, Deputy Energy Minister of Belarus Mikhail Mikhadyuk told an online conference hosted by BelTA on 22 January.

The official noted that foreign investments would be put in to upgrade the Minsk CHP plant No 5, build the Grodno and Polotsk hydropower stations, construct a small CHP plant operating on local fuels in Rechitsa.

MINSK, 30 December (BelTA) – The Belarusian nuclear power plant will be built at the Ostrovets site, said President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at a press conference on 30 December.

According to the President, the official decision will be made soon.

Speaking about the safety of the future nuclear installation, Alexander Lukashenko stressed: “We have gauged every step dozens of time.

MINSK, 29 December (BelTA) – President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko approved the draft cooperation agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation to construct a nuclear power plant in Belarus as the basis for holding the relevant negotiations, BelTA learnt from the presidential press service.

Energy Minister of Belarus Alexander Ozerets was authorized to hold the negotiations and sign the document.