Belarus and the importation of electric power
Belarus, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe with a population of approximately 9.5 million, faces significant challenges in its electric power sector. The nation produced about 11.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2022 but consumed a substantial 35.5 billion kilowatt-hours, leading to a reliance on imports, particularly from Russia and Ukraine. The geopolitical landscape shifted dramatically following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which impacted Belarus's energy imports. Historically, Belarus imported electricity from Lithuania's Ignalina nuclear power plant, but this facility was closed in 2009. In response, Belarus constructed its own nuclear power plant in Ostrovets, which began contributing nearly 29 percent of the country's electricity by 2023. Amidst limited natural resources, Belarus continues to manage its energy needs through domestic production and imports, with a focus on developing renewable energy sources such as hydro, wind, solar, and biomass. The country's energy management is overseen by Belenergo, the national production company, highlighting Belarus's strategic approach to navigating its energy challenges while balancing geopolitical relationships in a complex regional context.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Belarus and the importation of electric power
Official Name: Republic of Belarus.
Summary: Belarus, a landlocked nation of 9.5 million people, is situated between Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic states of Latvia and Lithuania. Renewables, notably hydro, wind, solar, and biomass, are key to the more self-sufficient energy future of Belarus.
In 2022, Belarus produced 11.508 million kilowatt-hours of electric power annually; however, it consumed 35.516 billion kilowatt-hours. Traditionally, some of its electric power has been imported from Ukraine and Russia. However, this situation has changed since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Belarus has aided Russia in the war, allowing the war to commence from its territory.
Electric power was previously imported from the nuclear power plant at Ignalina, Lithuania; however, that facility was closed at the end of 2009 because of its similarities to the failed Chernobyl nuclear plant. Belarus itself was directly downwind from some two-thirds of the Chernobyl fallout in 1986. Belarus has since built its own nuclear plant in Ostrovets. The plant, which was financed by Russia, has two reactors connected to the power grid. In 2023, these reactors had an energy capacity of 2.22 gigawatts and contributed nearly 29 percent of the country's total electricity production.
The country’s electric power complex is managed by a national production company, Belenergo, formed in 2006 by reorganizing the state energy sector. Because of its limited natural resources, Belarus continues to rely on imports to meet its energy needs in the 2020s. The country produced 73.929 million cubic meters of natural gas in 2022 and consumed 16.683 billion cubic meters.
The first distribution system was built in 1960–61; natural gas was imported from Russia. Gas was also provided to Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and the Kaliningrad district in Russia by transit through Belarus. The Yamal-Europe Pipeline was built in the territory of Belarus between 1996 and 2003.
The system comprises 4,654 miles (7,490 kilometers) of gas pipes, three underground gas storage repositories, five compressor stations, and 233 gas distribution stations. For Belarus, gas transit is a significant source of income; however, Russia has at various times stopped or threatened to stop providing gas to Belarus as a result of various conflicts such as delayed debts, increase in gas prices, and political pressure. About 20 percent of the gas shipped to European countries is shipped through Belarus.
Oil Resources and Imports
In Belarus, oil has been extracted since 1965, with a total of 122 million tons of oil through 2011. The maximum amount of extraction (almost 8 million tons) was reached in 1975. Since 1976, the amount of extraction has decreased; however, the addition of new wells increased oil production in the 2020s. In 2023, Belarus produced 1.87 million tons of oil.
Oil sector enterprises are controlled by the state. Oil and gas extraction, oil services, and purchasing are performed by the state production association, Belorusneft. The main oil seller is the Belarusian Oil Company, established in 2007, included the Novopolotsk oil-refining factory JSC Naftan, with a capacity of 240,000 barrels per day, and the JSC Mozir oil refinery, capacity 323,000 barrels per day. In 2009, these factories refined 21.65 million tons of oil.
In 2006, the Russian company Lukoil provided Belarus with around 84,000 barrels of oil per day. An open joint stock company, Surgutneftegas, has more influence, providing 100,000 barrels of oil per day. Belarusian oil-refining factories are attractive to the Russian companies because they produce oil products that correspond to European standards, have a developed infrastructure, and have access to European markets. Oil to Belarus may be provided by three channels: via the northern branch of the Druzhba Pipeline (also referred as the Friendship Pipeline), by rail, and by gas pipeline from the joint stock company Ventspils Nafta, Latvia, the biggest oil product transshipment company in the Baltic states. In 2010, when the argument with Russia about energy started, Belarus came to an agreement with Venezuela whereby Venezuela would provide 10 million tons of oil per year by cargo ship. In 2022, Belarus produced 30,000 barrels of oil per day and consumed 131,000 barrels per day. Its crude oil reserves were estimated to be 198 million barrels in 2021.
Bibliography
"Belarus." The World Factbook, 30 July 2024, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/belarus/#people-and-society. Accessed 6 Aug. 2024.
"Energy Industry." President of the Republic of Belarus, 2024, president.gov.by/en/belarus/economics/major-sectors/energy. Accessed 6 Aug. 2024.
Novikau, Aliaksandr. "Conceptualizing and Achieving Energy Security: The Case of Belarus." Energy Strategy Reviews, vol. 26, Nov. 2019, doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2019.100408. Accessed 6 Aug. 2024.