04 March 2025, 13:11

Lukashenko demands renovating power grids in Belarus

MINSK, 4 March (BelTA) – Power grids in Belarus should be revamped, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said while addressing the newly appointed Energy Minister Aleksei Kushnarenko, BelTA has learned.

“We need to continue preparations to build a national radioactive waste disposal site. We have spoken about this more than once. I will not go into details. The most important thing is to upgrade the power grid infrastructure taking into account the growing demand for electricity from households and economy. This is 5,700 km of power grids. This is a very important area of work. These are people's livelihoods, these are electric cars, this is our everything,” the head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that high-voltage grids are more or less in order, while other grids need more attention. These lower-level grids should be able to hold out well in case of emergencies like the hurricane that swept across Gomel Oblast. “That's why we need to focus on 5,700 km of power grids and 1,500 populated areas where people should have uninterrupted electricity supply,” he said.

The president noted that a number of decisions on electricity tariffs spurred the demand for electricity among home owners. These decisions were perceived extremely well by people. “If we build a second station [reference to the construction of a second nuclear power plant], why not do good to people? They will be grateful to us for many generations to come. If we don't do it, no one else will – [tariffs will be established based on] supply and demand. We need to respond to people's requests. We need to do this. This is the future.”