23 May 2011
Belenegro to sign credit agreement with China to construct Vitebsk hydropower plant
MINSK, 23 May (BelTA) - Belenergo is preparing the documents on the Vitebsk hydropower plant to sign a credit agreement and get the approval from the Chinese lender bank, BelTA learnt from Belenergo Deputy Director General Mikhail Luzin. The Vitebsk 40MW hydropower plant is planned to be built on the Western Dvina River by 2015. This will replace about 42,000 tonnes of fuel equivalent per year, which is equivalent to Br35 billion. A contract with China National Electric Equipment Corporation (CNEEC) was signed in December 2010. According to the document, the Chinese side shall be in charge of design, construction, supply of equipment and its installation, adjustment and commissioning. The corporation shall also runs the tests, put the plant into operation, and maintain during the warranty and training of personnel period. Belenergo continues to work on construction of the Polotsk hydropower plant on the Western Dvina (Vitebsk Oblast) with a capacity of 22MW, which is scheduled to come on stream in 2014. Annually the plant will produce 112 million kWh of electric power, which will replace 28,000 tonnes of fuel equivalent, or Br23 billion. The project is being implemented, including through a loan from the Eurasian Development Bank. Following the procurement contract tender, the main equipment contract was awarded to Tekhnopromexport (Russia) to construct a hydro-electric unit of the Polotsk hydropower plant. Earlier this year Tekhnopromexport signed a contract with Mavel a.s. (Czech Republic) for the supply of main power equipment for the Polotsk hydropower plant. Currently, the hydraulic equipment is being manufactured. Design and survey work are being carried out at the construction site. Belarus’ biggest hydropower capacities are concentrated in Grodno, Vitebsk and Mogilev Oblasts on the Neman, Western Dvina and Dnieper rivers. The plans on the table include the construction of the two hydropower plants on the Neman River with the total capacity of 37MW, four hydropower plants on the Western Dvina (112MW) and four more on the Dnieper (20.3MW). Once they enter service, Belenergo’s total hydropower capacity will make up nearly 180MW. By 2016 Belenergo plans to commission four large hydropower plants. The 17MW Grodno hydropower plant will start operating this year. The hydropower plant in Polotsk (22MW) will come on stream in 2014, in Vitebsk (40MW) and Nemnovo (20MW) in 2015. The annual power production is forecast at 0.4 billion kWh. Belenergo state power production concern was founded in 2006 following the reorganization of the Belarusian State Energy Concern. Belenergo comprises unitary companies Brestenergo, Vitebskenergo, Gomelenergo, Grodnoenergo, Minskenergo and Mogilevenergo.БЕЛТА
