Belarus-Poland energy cooperation enters new level

The Belarusian-Polish energy cooperation is entering a new level, Deputy Energy Minister of Belarus Mikhail Mikhadyuk and Deputy Economy Minister of Poland Tomasz Tomczykiewicz told media following the meeting of the Belarusian-Polish working group on 21 November, BelTA has learned.

The two countries set up a working group on energy cooperation in 2008. The contacts, however, have been almost frozen in the recent four years.
According to Tomasz Tomczykiewicz, over the time a lot of issues have accumulated, which should be addressed in cooperation with the Belarusian counterparts. The Polish side has initiated the resuming of the activity of the working group. The parties were happy with the results of the meeting that was attended by both government bodies and business entities.

The participants of the meeting discussed the most important issues for the companies of the energy sector. In particular, the parties talked over the intensification of the bilateral trade in electric energy and assistance in accidental situations with the use of the existing infrastructure. At present the 110kW Ross-Bialystok and 120kW Brest 2- Wolka Dobrynska power grids are not used in electricity exports. The parties looked into the ways of resuming the operation of these cross-border connections.

The meeting also highlighted the development pace of nuclear power in the two countries. The Belarusian delegation updated the Polish part on the construction of the nuclear power plant in Ostrovets. According to Tomasz Tomczykiewicz, the Belarusian experience in the area is very interesting for Poland as the country is mulling over the construction of its own nuclear power plant.

The heads of the delegations also took note of the prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation in renewable power resources and the mining industry. The delegations agreed to develop a joint early-warning system in case of oil and natural gas supply shortages.

Many issues should be considered at the intergovernmental level. The working group developed joint proposals to be included into the final protocol of the meeting of the joint Belarusian-Polish commission on economic cooperation which is due in Warsaw on 1-2 December.