The credit agreement for the financing of the construction of the Vitebsk HPP is planned to be signed in September

August 8, Minsk / Anna Kot - BELTA/. RUP "Vitebskenergo" plans to sign a loan agreement with the China Development Bank in September this year for the financing of the Vitebsk HPP construction investment project, the general director of the enterprise Pavel Kharitonov told BELTA correspondent.

An agreement on the project financing terms was reached during the negotiations between the Belarusian delegation and representatives of the Chinese bank, which took place at the end of July, and was initialed by a corresponding protocol between the bank and the enterprise. The head of "Vitebskenergo" emphasized that the loan terms will be quite favorable for both the Belarusian and Chinese sides.

The Vitebsk hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 40 MW is planned to be commissioned on the Western Dvina River in 2015. The HPP will allow replacing about 42 thousand tons of fuel equivalent per year.

In December 2010, a contract was concluded with the China National Electric Equipment Corporation. According to the document, the Chinese side must ensure the design, construction, supply of equipment and its installation, commissioning and adjustment works. In addition, the corporation's responsibilities include testing, commissioning of the facility, its maintenance during the warranty period, and personnel training.

Also, RUP "Vitebskenergo" is working on the implementation of an investment project for the construction of another hydroelectric power station on the Western Dvina. The Polotsk HPP with a capacity of 21.6 MW is planned to be launched in 2015. The annual electricity production of the station will be 112 million kWh. The HPP will allow replacing 28 thousand tons of fuel equivalent per year.

The construction of the Polotsk HPP is envisaged by the state program of innovative development of Belarus. According to the document, Br450.3 billion will be allocated for the project. The financing of the works will be carried out by the Eurasian Development Bank through the provision of a loan to "Vitebskenergo" under the guarantees of the Government of Belarus.

Following the procurement procedure for the main equipment, a contract was signed for the comprehensive construction of the Polotsk HPP hydraulic structure between RUP "Vitebskenergo" and OJSC "VO "Technopromexport" (Russia). Technopromexport's obligations include design, construction work, equipment supply and installation, commissioning, and putting the hydraulic structure into operation. At the beginning of the current year, Technopromexport signed a contract with Mavel a.s. (Czech Republic) for the supply of main power equipment for the Polotsk HPP. The process of manufacturing hydraulic engineering equipment is currently underway. Work at the site is being carried out in accordance with the construction schedule of the Polotsk HPP.

The greatest potential of Belarus's hydropower engineering is concentrated in the Grodno, Vitebsk, and Mogilev regions, where the Neman, Western Dvina, and Dnieper river basins are located. Plans include the construction of two HPPs on the Neman River with a total capacity of 37 MW, four on the Western Dvina (112 MW), and four on the Dnieper (20.3 MW). After their commissioning, the installed capacity of hydroelectric power plants on the balance sheet of Belenergo will be about 180 MW.

The State Production Association of Electric Power Industry "Belenergo" was established in 2006 through the reorganization of the Belarusian State Energy Concern to manage the economic activities of the electric power complex of Belarus. Belenergo includes, among others, the republican unitary enterprises "Brestenergo," "Vitebskenergo," "Gomelenergo," "Grodnoenergo," "Minskenergo," and "Mogilevenergo."

Technopromexport, established in 1955, is engaged in the construction of power facilities, including hydraulic, thermal, geothermal, and diesel power plants, as well as power transmission lines and substations. The total installed capacity of the company's power facilities exceeds 85 million kW.