Green News & Events SUPPLEMENT TO THE DIGEST“GREEN BELARUS”

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION CENTER in Belarus "ECO-INFO" CENTRAL SCIENTIFIC LIBRARY NAS BELARUS

№ 4 (43), April, 2017 MINSK, BELARUS

Ссылка на фото http://ecoinfo.bas-net.by/ecology-belarus/ecology_news_in_Belarus.html Environment Ministry: Joint project with EU has promoted

THIS ISSUE: development of green economy in Belarus

The joint project with the Europe- project of international technical Natural Resources and Environmental Environment Ministry: Joint project an Union has contributed to the assistance. For Belarus, this is a new Protection. “Much has been done development of green economy in field that holds great potential for the during the implementation of the with EU has promoted develop- Belarus, Belarusian First Deputy production of organic foods and crea- project. We are looking forward to ment of green economy in Belarus Natural Resources and Environ- tion of jobs in rural areas. Work was new programs and strongly believe mental Protection Minister Iya also underway in the field of certifica- that together we can achieve consid- ...... 1 Malkina said at the opening of the tion of goods, works and services. The erable results,” he added. international conference on green achieved results will be used to estab- European Union to invest over economy in Minsk on 5 April, Bel- lish norms, rules and environmental Minsk is hosting an international TA has learned. quality standards. For the past several conference on green economy in €800,000 in green economy pro- years, Belarus has been committed to Belarus and ways to promote its jects in Brest Oblast ...... 1 The conference sums up the results of the development of green economy, development on 5 April. The forum is the project Technical Assistance to Iya Malkina noted. held by the Belarusian Ministry of Support the Development of Green Natural Resources and Environmental Belarus presents initiatives on Economy in Belarus funded by the She emphasized that the development Protection jointly with the Institute of boosting cooperation European Union and implemented by of green economy is particularly rele- Economics of the National Academy of the consortium led by Hulla and Co vant in the context of the Year of Sciences of Belarus with the help of in energy efficiency in New York . 2 Human Dynamics KG. It was designed Science in Belarus. “We are always the project Technical Assistance to to facilitate institutional transfor- proud to say that our country has Support the Development of Green Czechia invites Brest Oblast to de- mations in the country, including in great intellectual potential. However, Economy in Belarus funded by the the Belarusian legislation. The project we should run slightly ahead of the European Union and implemented by velop joint environmental projects ran for more than two years. It con- global standards. We hope that the the consortium led by Hulla and Co ...... 2 tributed to the preparation of the solutions designed by Belarusian Human Dynamics KG. The conference national action plan for the develop- scientists will help us achieve the aims to work out methodological ment of green economy in Belarus for goals that we have set out in the approaches to Belarus' transition to World Bank ready to consider ad- the period until 2020 approved by the national action plan for the develop- sustainable development and promo- Belarusian government in December ment of green economy for the period tion of advanced scientific solutions in ditional investing in Belarus' forestry 2016. Another major focus of the until 2020,” Iya Malkina emphasized. priority areas of green economy de- sector ...... 2 project was on organic farming. Bela- scribed in the national action plan for rus' plan of draft laws for 2017 fea- Frederik Coene, Head of Operations the development of green economy Over 20 million trees planted in tures a law on organic farming. The Section at the Delegation of the Euro- for the period until 2020. law has been drafted in cooperation pean Union to Belarus, said that im- Belarus during Forest Week 2017 . 2 with experts engaged through the portant Belarus-EU ties have been BELTA, established through the Ministry of 4.04.2017 PM: Clean-up following last year's storms largely over in Belarus ...... 3 European Union to invest over €800,000 in green economy projects in Brest Oblast The European Union intends to have been bought. A strategy to de- The project for assisting Belarus' invest over €800,000 in the imple- velop ecotourism and marketing has transition to green economy is fi- mentation of pilot initiatives in the been put together. A business plan nanced by the European Union and is area of green economy in Brest has been worked out. Ten new tour- being implemented by the United Oblast, BelTA learned during a ism products are now being mastered Nations Development Program. It was green economy awareness-raising by the local personnel. The initiative launched in January 2015. A total of event in Brest. has already produced results as the 23 pilot initiatives are being imple- number of visitors the wildlife sanctu- mented all over the country as part of European money is used to implement ary attracts rose by 36% in 2016. The the project, with €5 million appor- three green economy initiatives in premises are being beautified now. tioned for them. The project is sup- Brest Oblast. The largest one is the Work on design specifications and posed to end on 31 December 2017. creation of a facility to convert waste estimates to build a photo tower is wood into biofuel at premises of the nearing completion. “We intend to The first information meeting on prin- Brest city utilities enterprise. The sign the contract and erect the photo ciples, mechanisms, and prospects of facility was opened in 2016 and now tower for watching birds and animals promoting green economy in the successfully operates. A mobile plant soon,” noted the project specialist. Republic of Belarus took place in Brest to chop waste wood has been bought, on 19 April. The event was organized a plant for sorting the resulting wood The Brest transboundary information by the European Union Delegation to chips by fractions as well as a loader center's initiative for organic food Belarus with assistance of the Bela- with mounted equipment. The project production and promotion through rusian Natural Resources and Environ- goes on. Work is in progress to buy reliance on agroecotourism operators mental Protection Ministry and the boiler equipment. and active members of the local com- Brest Oblast administration. There are munity has been successfully imple- plans to arrange similar awareness- An environmental information center mented. The initiative provides for raising events in Vitebsk, Grodno, has been established in the wildlife converting several populated localities Gomel, and Minsk Oblast. sanctuary Pribuzhskoye Polesie (the in into a herbal village of Leplevka, ). tourism destination in addition to BELTA, 19.04.2017 The premises have been repaired and starting the production of herbal teas. equipped: bicycles, canoes, and tents P. 2 NEWS & EVENTS IN BELARUS

Belarus presents initiatives on boosting cooperation in energy efficiency in New York

Belarus' Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Photo courtesy of the Ministry should unite their efforts in order to ensure Valentin Rybakov visited New York on 4 of Foreign Affairs access to environmentally sound sources of April. As a special guest he took part in the energy and relevant technologies. 3rd Sustainable Energy for All forum. The

GREEN BELARUS deputy foreign minister presented Belarus' The New York forum was held by the non- initiatives on boosting multilateral cooper- governmental organization Sustainable Energy ation in energy efficiency, BelTA learned for All headquartered in Vienna. The organiza- from the press service of the Belarusian tion serves as a coordinating platform for gov- , 2017 Foreign Ministry. ernments, business community, financial ex- perts, and civil society and draws their attention Valentin Rybakov spoke about the Belarusian to the goal of ensuring access to sustainable activity in energy industry and international energy for all. This goal corresponds to the 7th JAPRIL cooperation in this matter. The Belarusian diplomat spoke at length about Sustainable Development Goal (affordable and clean energy). The organi- Belarusian initiatives on stepping up multilateral cooperation in energy zation sees its task in raising investment in order to enhance the access efficiency with a focus on access to advanced energy technologies, the to sources of energy, boost energy efficiency and promote renewable press service remarked. energy. № 4 (43),

The deputy foreign minister noted that energy industry is gaining more and more importance in terms of fulfilling the Agenda for Sustainable BELTA, 05.04.2017 Development. Governments, business community and other parties Czechia invites Brest Oblast to develop joint environmental projects

The Czech Republic and Brest Oblast are interested in the projects to process solid municipal waste. Our region produces 600,000- development of joint environmental projects, Chairman of the 700,000 tonnes of waste annually,” the governor said. Brest Oblast Executive Committee Anatoly Lis said as he met with The parties also discussed the ways of bolstering ties in the timber Czech Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade Jiri Koliba, BelTA industry, agricultural mechanical engineering and metalworking, setting has learned. up joint manufactures of electric boilers for household and industrial “You have a wealth of experience in the field of environmentally purposes. sound technologies. I believe that this is the area where we should coop- Last year the trade between Brest Oblast and the Czech Republic erate. I would be happy if we found common ground and established amounted to about $15 million. In January-February 2017, it made up cooperation in this area,” Jiri Koliba said. $3.1 million (an increase of 189%). “Brest Oblast major exports to the Anatoly Lis supported the proposal and said that the interaction in Czech Republic are lead, timber products, baby toys, and peat. We can the environmental matters is very important . Brest Oblast has been explore more areas to build up the bilateral trade. We are interested in successfully implementing projects in conjunction with European organi- many goods made in the Czech Republic. We hope that our products will zations, the UNDP. “In 2019 Brest will celebrate its 1000th anniversary. be in demand in the market of the Czech Republic and the EU,” Anatoly We are implementing the Smart City program which addresses environ- Lis said. mental issues as well. We have a waste processing plant and are work- BELTA, ing on wastewater treatment. In the future, we would like to implement 20.04.2017 World Bank ready to consider additional investing in Belarus' forestry sector

The World Bank is ready to consider the forestry sector. “The plans envisage the devel- allocation of additional funds into the develop- opment of six tree seed centers. The loan, ment of the Belarusian forestry sector, Young however, is not enough to do it. That is why Chul Kim, World Bank Country Manager for we have addressed the World Bank for addi- Belarus, told the media during the launch of the tional investment. This procedure takes time. Forest Week campaign on 1 April, BelTA has Meanwhile, we will expect the decision and will learned. be developing the loan we have,” Belarusian “The project we are implementing today Forestry Minister Mikhail Amelyanovich said. is estimated at $40.7 million. However, we are The World Bank's loan is used to develop lining discussing a possibility with the Belarusian -out nurseries, protect forests from fires, train government to increase the financing depend- specialists. The project will help modernize the ing on the needs of the Belarusian forestry forestry sector. The traditional voluntary cam- sector. Therefore, as soon as the goals of the paign Forest Week is held in Belarus on 1-8 project are achieved, we will be ready to consider additional financing,” April. This year the Forest Week campaign highlights the restoration of said Young Chul Kim. In his rods, the current project is the second joint forests after storms that hit Belarus in 2016.

project of the World Bank and the Forestry Ministry of Belarus. BELTA, The World Bank's loan is used to give a boost to the country's 3.04.2017 Over 20 million trees planted in Belarus during Forest Week 2017

More than 20 million trees were planted in Belarus during the “Apart from new forests, the participants planted new tree alleys and Forest Week 2017 campaign, BelTA learned from the press service parks in memory of the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War who fought for of the Belarusian Forestry Ministry. Belarus' liberation. They also took part in post-winter clean-ups at 27 memorials and 37 former partisans' forest camps. The volunteers carried “Some 82,500 people joined the voluntary campaign Forest Week this out a huge amount of work. The forests are now in a much better state, year. They planted almost 21 million trees to cover a total area of 6,700 they are cleaner and greener,” the press service added. hectares, including 1,100 hectares in the storm-damaged forests. Failed trees were replaced on an area of 1,800 hectares,” the ministry said. The traditional voluntary campaign Forest Week ran in Belarus from 1 to 8 April. It was initiated by the Belarusian Forestry Ministry. This year, the The campaign participants spruced up 138 recreation areas. Over a thou- campaign was held for the tenth time and was aimed at restoring the sand cubic meters of litter was collected in forests, along the roads and at forests damaged by the storms that hit Belarus in the summer of 2016. recreation areas.

BELTA, 22.04.2017 P. 3 NEWS & EVENTS IN BELARUS PM: Clean-up following last year's storms largely over in Belarus

The cleaning of the mainly forestries who were doing the clean-up. They had help from Belles- destruction left in the bumprom organizations and other companies,” Andrei Kobyakov said. wake of last year's GREEN BELARUS storm in the forests Work to overcome the destruction brought by the storms is largely over. of Belarus is almost These are only the inaccessible parts in the swampy areas that remain completed, Belarus uncleared. But we are getting there too,” the prime minister said.

, 2017 Prime Minister Andrei Speaking about the participation of the government official in the National Kobyakov told report- Clean-Up Day, Andrei Kobyakov noted that such work, such change of activ- ers during the Nation- ity is quite useful. al Clean-Up Day, Bel- JAPRIL TA has learned. The storms that swept Belarus on 12-13 July 2016 caused severe damage to the forestry industry: the country lost 4.6 million cubic meters of timber The prime minister is on the area of 12.64 thousand hectares. Minsk Oblast accounted for 83.4% taking part in the event of destruction. Worst affected forestries were in Smolevichi (more than 1.85 to plant trees in the № 4 (43), million cubic meters) and in Cherven (more than 1.33 million cubic meters). Smolevichi Forestry, Minsk Oblast. Participating are also First Deputy Prime Minister Vasily According to Forestry Minister Mikhail Amelyanovich, in spring 2017 new Matyushevsky and Vice Prime Minister Mikhail Rusy, officials of the Council forests will be planted on the area of more than 5,000 hectares. For refor- of Ministers Office. The government officials are planting pine and birch estation and development the forestry industry uses the funds the World trees in the area that was damaged in July 2016. Bank. Now the Bank is considering additional funding for these purposes.

Last year's storms badly damaged the forest plantations, particularly in Minsk Oblast. “We worked hard to remove fallen trees as quick as possible, BELTA, 22.04.2017 recycle wood, part of which was exported. We did a huge job. These were Belarus holds National Clean-Up Day 22 April Rybakov discusses Chernobyl cooperation prospects with Helen Clark

Belarus' Deputy Minister of Foreign tion on the Chernobyl-related matters within Affairs Valentin Rybakov has met with the context of the new resolution on Cherno- UNDP Administrator Helen Clark, who is byl adopted by the UN General Assembly in completing her service at the post, in December 2016,” the ministry said. New York to discuss the prospects of In April 2016 the President of Belarus award- international cooperation on the Cherno- ed the Francysk Skaryna Order to UNDP Ad- byl-related matters, BelTA learned from ministrator Helen Clark in recognition of her the press service of the Belarusian Minis- significant personal contribution to the devel- try of Foreign Affairs. opment of cooperation between the Republic “The Belarusian diplomat expressed of Belarus and the United Nations to ensure gratitude to Helen Clark for her dedicated comprehensive rehabilitation and sustainable service both at the post of the UNDP adminis- development of the regions affected by the trator and as a coordinator of the UN international cooperation on Cherno- Chernobyl disaster. byl, her personal contribution to the Chernobyl cooperation development. BELTA, The parties exchanged opinions on the prospects of international coopera- 4.04.2017 Belovezhskaya Pushcha's European Diploma may be renewed for 10 years

The European Diploma for Protected Areas awarded to the nation- Herve Lethier will submit his report to a group of international experts al park Belovezhskaya Pushcha may be renewed for ten years, who will make a decision during a meeting of the Committee of Ministers BelTA learned from Vasily Ar- of the Council of Europe. A resolu- nolbik, deputy director general tion on the renewal of the European of the park. Diploma to Belovezhskaya Pushcha is scheduled to be adopted in sum- The national park has recently host- mer 2018. Representatives of the ed a three-day appraisal visit by national park will be invited to at- Council of Europe expert Herve Le- tend the meeting in Strasbourg. “We thier. The expert considered the hope the European Diploma for possibility of extending the validity Protected Areas will be renewed for of the diploma. He met with the ten years in accordance with the workers and the management of the new regulations,” Vasily Arnolbik national park, looked into the envi- added. ronmental protection activities, the management and economic perfor- In late 1997, the Council of Europe mance, and measures taken to de- awarded the European Diploma to velop tourism. Vasily Arnolbik said Belovezhskaya Pushcha as an out- that the independent expert was standing example of a protected quite satisfied with the level of com- area. The diploma was renewed for pliance with the conditions and rec- five years in 2012. The national park ommendations for the renewal of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha became diploma that were given to the park five years ago. partner of PAN Parks, a European network of protected areas, and was honored with Wilderness Diploma in 2013. Since 2014, the park has been “Over the past years, the team of the national park have made considera- a Polish-Belarusian cross-border world heritage site under the name Bi- ble achievements in terms of environmental protection, conservation of alowieza Forest. the biodiversity of the oldest forest of Europe. We follow the previously

issued recommendations and conditions of the diploma. The value of the natural assets of Belovezhskaya Pushcha on the European, continental BELTA, scale does not diminish but rather increases,” Vasily Arnolbik emphasized. 14.04.2017 P. 4 NEWS & EVENTS IN BELARUS

Decision on including Brest in Belovezhskaya Pushcha visa- free area expected by year-end 2017 A decision on including the city of Brest in the Belovezhskaya The minister pointed out that launching visa-free travel is not enough to Pushcha visa-free area is expected by the end of the year, Bela- attract tourists. “It is necessary to understand that visa-free travel is no rusian Sports and Tourism Minister Alexander Shamko told report- panacea. It is an element of the tourism promotion policy,” Alexander ers at BelTA's press center on 3 April. Shamko stressed. GREEN BELARUS “Today foreign nationals can visit Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Augustow A total of 17 tourist routes have been developed to draw tourists to Be- Canal and Grodno without a visa. We see in which direction to move and lovezhskaya Pushcha National Park. Work is underway to set up an open- what to do to promote the development of these regions. A working air archaeological museum. Three cross-border tourist routes have been

, 2017 group is analyzing the situation in Grodno, which is included in the Augus- established jointly with Poland as part of the international project Euro- tow Canal visa-free area, in order to create the most favorable conditions region Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Ecological trails and hunting tours have for visiting Brest. I think that the matter [regarding the inclusion of Brest been arranged. There are 80 audio guides in English, German, and in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha visa-free area] will be decided by the end French. JAPRIL

of the year,” Alexander Shamko said. The visa-free zone may be expand- ed to include not only Brest, but also Kamenets District, Dis- BELTA, trict, and Brest District. 03.04.2017 № 4 (43), Belarus' Grodno Oblast, Lithuania outline joint projects in tourism, alternative energy

Grodno Oblast of Belarus and Lithuania have outlined joint pro- presented at the Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus competition program. A part of jects in tourism, alternative energy and investments. The matters were them pertain to the joint use of the Neman and the development of in- discussed by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lithuania ternational navigation. to Belarus Andrius Pulokas and Grodno Oblast Governor Vladimir Krav- “As for the economic area, there are more than 120 companies tsov on 5 April, BelTA has learned. with the Lithuanian capital in Grodno Oblast. This cooperation is gaining According to Andrius Pulokas, the parties need to use more active- pace,” Vladimir Kravtsov said. In particular, Lithuania's ARVI Group of ly the tourist potential of Grodno Oblast and that of the Belarusian- Companies commissioned a turkey processing plant near Lida in early Lithuanian border zone. “The visa-free travel to Grodno brings benefits 2017. It has also implemented a number of other large-scale projects in to the surrounding area. Some aspects of the visa-free rules were great the region. New areas of cooperation are currently considered. news for us. This area should be further developed,” noted Andrius Pulo- Cooperation in the field of alternative energy looks promising as kas. He stressed that not only the Augustow Canal or the joint use of the well. Grodno Oblast is implementing several solar and wind energy pro- Neman is promising. Grodno is a city with the common history and it can jects at present. This theme will be one of the issues to top the agenda be interesting to every Lithuanian. of the Belarusian-Lithuanian economic forum in Kaunas in May 2017. “Up to 1,000 tourists make use of the opportunity to visit our The meeting also highlighted logistics matters, including further region visa free at weekends. 60% of them are Lithuanians. We continue development of the Kamenny Log checkpoint at the Belarusian- developing this area,” Vladimir Kravtsov said. In his words, there are Lithuanian border. According to Andrius Pulokas, Lithuania is working on plans to open the Grodno tourist information center in Lithuania's the matter. Birstonas. Perhaps, another center will be opened in Vilnius. A center to He also noted that there are plans to start the construction of a provide information about the tourist potential of Lithuania will appear in new building for the Lithuanian consulate in Grodno in 2017. The land Grodno. The parties also discussed possible ways to jointly develop the plot allocated for the project in Grodno downtown has been idle for near- Michal Kleofas Oginski estate in Zalesye, Smorgon District. Among possi- ly eight years. The Ambassador said that necessary funds have already ble cultural projects is a meeting of Lithuanian communities from Bela- been earmarked and the designing works are underway. rus, Poland, Russia, and other states, which is to take place in Grodno. BELTA, Cross-border cooperation has been established between Grodno 6.04.2017 Oblast and the Lithuanian regions. More than 100 joint projects were Belarus to host IAEA nuclear infrastructure review mission in 2019

Belarus is planning to host the IAEA nuclear infrastructure agement of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel and the creation of review mission in 2019, Belarus Deputy Energy Minister Mikhail decommissioning funds. This year the IAEA is planning a mission on the Mikhadyuk told the media on 20 April, BelTA has learned. development of control systems for the nuclear power plant, a workshop An Emergency Preparedness Review (EPREV) mission will come to on the safety culture of the operating organization, a workshop on eco- Belarus in 2018. Preparations are underway for an Integrated Nuclear nomic aspects of the storage of spent nuclear fuel, and a number of Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission and a Pre-Operational Safety Re- other training seminars.

view Team (Pre-OSART) mission which are scheduled for 2019. BELTA, In Q1 2017 Belarus hosted two IAEA expert missions on the man- 20.04.2017 British investor plans to build solar power station in District

A British investor has plans to build a solar power station in Estonian project worth $400,000 to manufacture absorbing agents based , Chairman of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee on peat in Stolin District. Anatoly Lis said as he met with students and staff of Brest State Technical University on 13 April, BelTA has learned. Attracting foreign investment is a priority for the local government au- thorities. Brest Oblast receives investment from 42 countries. The region “We are currently thinking about signing an investment contract to the got some $134 million in 2016. “The well-developed infrastructure and tune of over $34 million to set up a solar power station,” Anatoly Lis the good economic and geographic position provide us with a good basis noted. The matter involves the company StolinSolar that has been regis- for attracting investors to the region,” Anatoly Lis said. A list of invest- tered in Stolin District this year. The investment project envisages crea- ment sites has been drawn up for the implementation of projects in tion of ten jobs. Some 20 additional workers will be employed during the different economy sectors. Now the list features 112 land plots with a high season. total area of more than 280 hectares.

Brest Oblast plans to carry out several other projects with the participa- As many as 38 investment projects are currently underway in Brest tion of foreign investors this year. These include a $4.5 million worth Oblast.

project to launch the production of mycelia at BTV-Agro in Kobrin Dis- trict, a $1 million worth German project to produce bog bilberry and BELTA, blackberry with the use of drip watering in District, and an 13.04.2017 NEWS & EVENTS IN BELARUS

Formula for energy saving

While travelling across Belarus for states invested $60-70 billion into renewable work, I often see new wind turbines spring- energy projects. Today, the figure stands at $300 ing up. You can’t miss their huge rotating -350 billion. This is leading to the development of blades. New wind farms are being created technology and is reducing the cost of year of in theт Grodno and Minsk regions, alongside science While travelling across Belarus for work, SUPPLEMENT “NEWS & an increasing number of solar power plants. I often see new wind turbines springing up. You EVENTS IN BELARUS” However, we have some way to go to com- can’t miss their huge rotating blades. New wind

GREEN BELARUS pare with Denmark, which leads in generat- farms are being created in the Grodno and Minsk TO THE DIGEST ing renewable energy. Over 40 percent of regions, alongside an increasing number of solar its electricity is generated by wind. power plants. However, we have some way to go “GREEN BELARUS”. What’s preventing us from progressing to compare with Denmark, which leads in gener-

, 2017 ating renewable energy. Over 40 percent of its http://ecoinfo.bas-net.by/ecology- faster, and what are our immediate plans? Ex- perts, parliamentarians and ministry representa- electricity is generated by wind. Nadezhda belarus/ Ponkratova 10 Беларусь. Belarus 2017 such ecology_news_in_Belarus.html tives recently met for a round table discussion, at which renewable energy sources (RES) were energy,” concludes the Chairman of the Parlia- JAPRIL

discussed. Belarus may appear to lack enough mentary Commission for Industry, Fuel and Ener- The supplement was established in wind or sunlight but specialists say that Belarus’ gy Complex, Transport and Communication, 2013 as an informational and educa- potential to use solar panels would create almost Andrey Rybak. “In view of the potential of our tional resource that can be freely 20 percent more solar power than in Germany, science and engineering, we could independently

№ 4 (43), develop equipment and power plants, for export. accessed by all users interested in Belgium, Denmark and the UK. Meanwhile, wind energy at a height of between 50 and 150 me- This would involve huge funds but would bring ecology and environmental problems. tres is significant: quite different from how we tremendous opportunities.” It is a digest of the most important experience it on the ground. As regards wind The Ministry of Natural Resources and potential, Belarus is similar to Poland and other Environmental Protection’s Departmental Head, news and events. EU countries. Yet, the country lags behind Poland Sergey Zavyalov, agrees, saying, “Nearly more than a hundred times regarding wind 400,000 hectares of land in Belarus could be plants. allocated to solar stations. This is expensive but, over the past decade, technology has stepped Published once a month. Belarus’ lack of innovation in this sphere, and its state subsidy mechanism, are hampering forward, so that the pay-back period has dropped the development of renewable energy. It seems from fifteen to five years. This enables us to put that the country does not fully appreciate the aside elevated ratios, which the country pays to role of wind energy: just 11MW of electricity is investors for the implementation of renewable expected to come from this source from 2017 energy sources. Tariffs could be lowered.” SUPPLEMENT "NEWS & EVENTS IN BELARUS" through until 2019. This is not enough to attract The Executive Director of the Renewable TO THE DIGEST “GREEN BELARUS” major investment. References to the high cost of Energy Association, Vladimir Nistyuk, stresses such projects and their long-term return are the ecological angle, commenting, “A single wind untenable. turbine of 1MW makes it possible to annually

The technical potential of renewable ener- reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,800 ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION gy sources in Belarus is estimated at 80 million tonnes. The whole world is progressing along a CENTER "ECO-INFO" tonnes of oil equivalent, which is more than the path we’ve joined only recently. If the state, business, science and civil society work together CENTRAL SCIENTIFIC LIBRARY NAS BELARUS total energy consumption in the country. By 2020, the share of renewable energy generation to solve this problem, we’ll succeed.” HTTP://ECOINFO.BAS NET.BY – should reach By Yevgeny Kononovich

at least 6 percent. Советская Белоруссия, № 4 (43), “Figures speak for themselves. In 2004, 3.04.2017 APRIL, 2017

REPRINT WITH REFERENCE TO GB Ammunition disposal project

LEAVES IN ENGLISH finished in Gomel Oblast

INTERNET-BULLETIN As part international HTTP://ECOINFO.BAS-NET.BY/ECOLOGY- of the closing w e a p o n r y BELARUS/ECOLOGY_NEWS_IN_BELARUS.HTML ceremony of storage and the project for h a n d l i n g recycling PFM- regulations The room contains materials prepared by 1 mines the as well as the news agency correspondents BELTA, last 78 anti- B e la r u s i a n Belarus-Magazine , The Minsk Times. p e r s o n n e l and Europe- mines were an environ- destroyed at m e n t a l WORKED ON THE PRODUCTION OF: an army stor- norms relat- LAPITSKAYA G.I. age facility ing to weap- near Rechitsa, ons. “Safety TARASEVICH A.A. Gomel Oblast and compli- on 5 April, ance with GORODKO Y.M. BelTA has E u r o p e a n DESIGN AND LAYOUT: learned. s t a n d a r d s Over the course of the project as many as were key parameters during the development TARASEVICH A.A. 3.4 million PFM-1 antipersonnel mines had to be and construction of this facility. The bulk of the destroyed using a mobile factory built by the investments went into making sure the facility is GORODKO Y.M. Spanish company Expal at a military base near compliant with environmental safety norms,” said Expal's project manager Xavier Gonzalez. Rechitsa. "Eco-Info" CSL NASB The recycling center was opened three As many as 17 workers operated the fac- Address for correspondence: years ago. The European Union allocated €3.9 tory over the course of the project. Expal spe- Surganova, 15, of. 501 cialists trained the local personnel. According to 220072 Minsk, Belarus million for implementing the project. The tech- nology relies on cold detonation, which is de- Andrei Kurakov, Chief of the Engineering Corps e-mail: [email protected] signed to destroy ammunition with liquid explo- of the Belarusian army and the project's coordi- Website: http://ecoinfo.bas-net.by/ sive substances. Chemical components, which nator, once the factory is closed, the personnel, Twitter: https://twitter.com/Green_Belarus who mastered additional skills over the course of Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CSL.by make part of the ammunition, and the resulting Tel.: +375 (17) 284 14 96 waste were safely recycled as a result. the project, will be able to easily find employ- ment elsewhere in Belarus. The mobile ammunition demilitarization

factory was developed by Expal Company using special technologies for the project in line with BELTA, 5.04.2017