MINSK, 25 January (BelTA) - One square meter of new government-subsidized housing in 2021 will not exceed Br1,152, Belarus' Architecture and Construction Minister Ruslan Parkhamovich said on the air of the ONT TV channel on 24 January, BelTA has learned.
“As for the construction of government-subsidized housing, the price per one square meter will not exceed Br1,152 this year. Thus, we will meet the target regarding ratio of the price for government-subsidized housing to average monthly wage. As for commercial housing, I think the price will be shaped by the demand and cost of basic building materials,” the minister noted.
Plans are in place to build 4 million square meters of housing this year. With the launch of the nuclear power plant, the country will build more houses that use electricity for heating, hot water supply and cooking. “In 2018 we commissioned almost 6,000m2 of all-electric homes, while in 2020 the figure exceeded 100,000m2. This year we are set to build about 170,000m2 of such housing, thus all-electric homes will account for 5% of all commissioned housing,” the minister said.
In addition, 95,000m2 of rental housing is to be constructed in Belarus using budgetary funds. Ruslan Parkhamovich emphasized that this is not enough, as demand clearly exceeds supply.
This year, two big investment projects will be completed in the oil refining industry (at Mozyr Oil Refinery and Naftan). The construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant will continue. The important projects of the Construction and Architecture Ministry this year include the construction of a glass container plant and the completion of the RDF-fuel project at Krasnoselskstroymaterialy. Belarus will also continue building healthcare facilities and transport infrastructure, kindergartens and schools.
The minister also took stock of the year 2020. In his words, labor productivity in the construction industry went up more than 3% last year. Much attention was paid to the unfinished facilities. In 2020, more than 200 such projects were completed. “We have practically solved the issue related to protracted construction projects. As of 1 January 2021, we have only two such facilities left. They are in Minsk. The Minsk City Hall is busy with completing these projects,” Ruslan Parkhamovich said.
