Belarus’ NPP construction to require redistribution of energy consumption

The construction and commissioning of the Belarusian nuclear power plant (NPP) will necessitate significant changes in the electric energy generation and consumption in Belarus, First Deputy Energy Minister of Belarus Leonid Shenets said at a plenary session of the 18th Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum on 16 August, BelTA has learned.

According to the Energy Ministry, the daily power generation schedule should be balanced. “Virtually all Belarus’ major industrial enterprises work in the so-called base, so it is impossible to re-arrange the consumption schedule and switch from the morning maximum to the night maximum. Therefore, we should come up with new solutions and new schemes to balance the interests of industrial giants and population and maximize energy consumption during the night time,” Leonid Shenets said.

The need to balance energy consumption is based on economic considerations, because during the busiest period power generation is very costly, while during the slow period the cost of electric energy reduces because of de-energizing or de-powering inefficient energy generation sources. It is also possible to balance the consumption schedule by encouraging consumers to use energy during the period when it costs the least.

The 18th Belarusian Energy and Ecology Congress is taking place in Minsk and Grodno on 16-19 October. The congress is part of the Belarusian Energy and Ecology Forum. The Forum also features the 18th international specialized expo Energy. Ecology. Energy Saving. Electro (EnergyExpo 2013). This year the expo has gathered over 360 corporations from 18 countries. It is noteworthy that the forum is held during Belarus’ chairmanship in the CIS.