Title: The energy challenge facing the Republic of Belarus

Authors: L. Padalko, L. Manykina, B. Rasmussen

Addresses: Economics and Organisation in Power Industry Department, Belorussian State Polytechnical Academy, Skoriny Av., 65, Minsk, 220027, Belarus. ' Economics Department, Economics and Linguistics University, Botanicheskaja Street, 15a Minsk, 220080, Belarus. ' Economics Department, Economics and Linguistics University, Botanicheskaja Street, 15a Minsk, 220080, Belarus

Abstract: Belarus has a plethora of energy-related problems which had their origin in the cheap oil days of the former USSR. These problems include inefficient and energy-intensive industrial plants, few methods of conserving energy, no pricing strategies for increasing the efficient utilisation of the electric generating system, dependency on Russian oil, virtually no domestic source of conventional fuel and no plans for developing alternative energy sources and an ageing electric generating capacity. The solution to these problems is made more difficult by a depressed Belorussian economy which limits the ability of government to finance needed energy projects. At present, a prolonged downturn in the economy has masked a projected power outage. Assuming that the economy will recover, a substantial power outage will occur and measures need to be taken now to lessen the effect. The authors indicate that a piecemeal approach will not work, and they set forth a comprehensive plan to deal with the problems.

Keywords: biomass; energy consumption; differential pricing; energy efficiency; energy intensity; non-conventional energy sources; tariffs; Belarus.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1996.063459

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1996 Vol.8 No.5/6, pp.450-452

Published online: 14 Jul 2014 *

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