BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

02/11/2007

Surging fuel prices are test for Belarus - Lukashenko

MINSK, November 2 (Itar-Tass) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko sated that power generation became a major world problem of the 21st centaury. "Shortages of electricity, gas and oil become a cause of international tensions and conflict," he stated at the 1st Congress of Belarusian scientists on Friday.

"We already see runaway increases in prices of fuels; and it's a test for Belarus, because we have no oil and gas fields of our own," Lukashenko said.

He underlined that taking into account the difficulties the country is facing, Belarus had adopted a concept of energy security, which empathizes diversification of energy resources and transition to alternative energy sources.

The president noted that much work had already been done, and friendly ties had been established with countries that possess large reserves of oil and gas, such as Venezuela, Iran and Azerbaijan.

"I believe we'll be able to come to terms with Russia, too," Lukashenko said.

Belarus leadership is ready for cooperation and should not miss the opportunity to launch its own production of fuel in these countries. Belarus can produce hydrocarbon fuels not only for its own needs but also for sale.

In his view, it is important to secure an effective refining of hydrocarbons at the country's oil refineries. "The difficulty is that the profitability of this branch is a mere 1 percent," he went on to say.

The president believes it is necessary to allocate funds for improving refining technologies, in particular at the Mozyr refinery. "The production of petroleum should fully conform to European standards by the content of benzene hydrocarbons," he noted.

On alternative sources of fuel, he said it was necessary to make the best use of local resources which may make up at least 25 percent in the national energy balance.

The construction of a nuclear power plant in the country was inevitable, Lukashenko underlined.

But nuclear physicists should explain to the people the necessity of this propjet and the safety of the technologies they would apply.

"One has to enlist specialties and discuss these issues in the press, so that people do not worry," the president noted.

Meanwhile, a nuclear power plant will be unable to resolve all problems. It is necessary to use recoverable sources of energy: hydropower, solar energy and geothermal waters.

He also underlined the significance of using water resources. Belarus has some 63 million tonnes of explored oil reserves, 99 million tonnes of brown coal and one billion tonnes of oil shale.

Source:

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=12032262&PageNum=0