The strategic plans of the Baltic States’ and Ukraine’s energy systems to join the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) energy system have reduced the external connections – and thus the reliability – of Belarus’s energy system.
In accordance with Presidential Decree No. 583 of December 2013, the Republican Unitary Enterprise Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant performs the functions of holder and operating organisation for commissioning, operations, performance control, lifetime extension and decommissioning of the Belarusian NPP.
A Belneftekhim representative spoke highly of the Vitebsk Hydropower Station Project undertaken by CNEEC in Belarus, and noted that the project has been acknowledged by the Belarusian government along with the owner and partners, adding that more cooperation is expected to be developed with CNEEC.
Belarus does not have a single independent energy regulatory authority. The Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade is responsible for regulating electricity and heat tariffs for industrial customers, independent suppliers and all categories other than residential consumers, based on the 2011 Decree on Price Tariffs.
Oil transportation in Belarus is carried out through the Druzhba pipelines system: the Unecha-Polotsk, with a capacity of 29 Mt/year, the Unecha-Mozyr (80 Mt/year) and the Surgut-Polotsk (40 Mt/year).
On 1 September 2013, the STB ISO 50001-2013 standard on energy management systems became valid in Belarus. Unlike energy audits, it is voluntary for organisations to implement an energy management system.