Belarus' electricity exports more than double in 2019

MINSK, 13 February (BelTA) – In 2019, Belarus' electricity exports went up by more than two times year-on-year, Belarus' Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich told the media on 13 February, BelTA has learned.

“Last year electricity production in the country increased by 5% in comparison with 2018. Electricity exports showed a significant growth, by more than two times, to make up 2.4 billion kWh,” Viktor Karankevich said.

In his words, the major goal for 2020 is to keep the 2019 level in electricity exports. “In 2020, our export markets will be the Baltic states and Ukraine. Of course, different factors, including prices, will affect the situation, but our main task is to keep the level reached in 2019,” the minister said.

The growth in electricity consumption in Belarus made up 0.4% in 2019.

As BelTA reported earlier, Belarus' electricity exports exceeded 1 billion kWh in 2018, up more than seven times from 2017. In 2018, Belarus stopped importing electricity for the first time in its sovereign history. This became possible thanks to a number of upgrading projects and the generation of energy resources at lower costs.