In 2009, the ministry is planning to raise $410 million worth of foreign investment to carry out 15 projects. These projects are to upgrade energy unit No5 of the Bereza state district power station, energy unit No4 of the Lukoml state district power station, to construct a steam and gas unit at Minsk CHP-plant 5, construction of the first phase of the Mozyr underground gas storage facility.
Chinese and Russian companies are taking part in the tender for the construction of the Polotsk hydro-electric power station. Russia and India are competing in the tender for the purchase of the equipment for the Grodno CHP-2 plant. Cooperation has been established with Siemens, Areva, ABB for the delivery of energy equipment.
Belarus continues the work with the World Bank to attract a $109 million loan for the upgrade of boiler shop No 3 of the Zhodino CHP plant and boiler house PK-3 in Mogilev.
The talks are held with the Polish Kulczyk Holding on setting up a joint venture to construct a Zelva coal-fired plant. The first meeting of the joint working group will take place on April 8, 2009.
The Polish Energy Group will participate in setting up a joint venture to construct a Ross-Narev 400kv high-voltage line.
The Energy Ministry has held talks with the Swiss company ALSTOM on the joint construction of a cascade of hydroelectric power stations on the Western Dvina and Dnieper, construction of a 459MW steam and gas plant in the town of Belozersk and a wind park.
The Energy Ministry will continue attracting foreign companies including from the Asian region, in energy projects. The ministry has been cooperating with the Chinese National Corporation on Foreign Economic Cooperation, Gezhouba Group, the Chinese National Corporation on Energy Equipment, the Indian Electrochemical Company BHEL. The Belarusian ministry has been negotiating and looking for possible cooperation areas with companies and organisations of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Energy Ministry is keen to boost cooperation with the companies of various countries and attract investments to the energy sector of the Republic of Belarus.