/24^th May 2016, Belarusian Telegraph Agency (BelTA)/
According to Belarusian Telegraph Agency (BelTA) the implementation of the project to create a solar power plant with the output capacity of 109 MW has begun in Belarus in Cherikov District, Mogilev Oblast, BelTA learned from Sergei Poluichik, First Deputy Chairman of the Cherikov District Executive Committee, on 19 February. According to the source, the Irish company Cameliasiade Limited has already started design and survey work and plans to finish it early March. The main project to create a photovoltaic power plant with the output capacity of 109MW will begin afterwards. The company has already spent BYR 1.6 billion and plans to invest a total of about BYR 600 billion (USD 29.1 million/EUR 25.6 million).

/14^th September 2017, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM, UNDP) According to RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM, Belarus plans to increase its wind power capacity to 500 MW by 2030 from an insignificant level of cumulative installed capacity at present. This information is based on recent UNDP-GEF project “Removing Barriers to Wind Power Development in Belarus” in cooperation with United Nations Development Project and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus produced a report on de-risking renewable energy investment.

/14^th September 2016, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM/ The main priority of energy policy and strategy of Belarus according to Belarus Photovoltaic Market: Outlook 2016 ÷ 2025 released by the RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM, is to reduce dependence on energy imports and to improve the financial stability of the sector. For this reason, renewable energy and energy efficiency have been selected as priority sectors to implement the well balanced sustainable energy policy of the country. On 1^st March 2016, the government approved the “Comprehensive Development Plan for the Electricity Sector to 2025 and Beyond”, allowing the necessary changes in the regulatory and technical framework. The plan also includes allowances for network rehabilitation and development, as well as tariff subsidy phase-out. On 6^th April 2016, a new “Energy Efficiency and Energy Savings Plan for 2016-2020” came into force.

/25^th August 2016, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM/ Belarusian mobile operator Velcom informed about the opening of the largest solar PV power plant in the country till the moment. It is located Bragin in the southern part of Belarus. This solar PV power plant has 22 MWp capacity and covers an area of more than 41 ha and with 85,000 solar PV modules delivered by Chinese solar manufacturer Risen Energy Co Ltd. This solar project represents an excellent example of how the land contaminated by the Chernobyl accident can be used to generate clean power. Approximately €24 million ($ 26.4 million) have been invested in the project. The main priority of energy policy and strategy in Belarus according to CIS Countries Photovoltaic Market: Outlook 2016÷2025 released by the RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM, is to provide a reliable and sustainable energy supply for the national economy while reducing dependence on energy imports and improving the financial stability of the sector. Both renewable energy and energy efficiency have been identified as priorities to achieving these aims; however, most of the energy sector change will be due to a new planned nuclear power station, expected to become partially operational by 2020.

/30^th July 2018, RAWI, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM) The Republic of Belarus is situated in Eastern Europe at the crossroads of strategic transit pipelines for gas and oil, connecting Western Europe, the Russian Federation and Asia. The landlocked country’s electricity system is interconnected with Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania to the northwest.

/19^th September 2017, RENEWABLE MARKET WATCH^TM/ Belarus is located in the centre of Europe. The territory accounts 207.6 thousand km2, and the population is 9.51 million people (2016). Belarus cannot cover its demand for energy with domestic sources because its mineral resources and renewable energy sources (RES) are quite limited according to Belarus Photovoltaic Market: Outlook 2016 ÷ 2025. The country has to import fuels and energy, mainly from the Russian Federation. The share of the net import of total primary fuel and energy consumption is about 85 % (2016). Belarus ratified the UNFCCC in 2000 and the Kyoto Protocol in 2005. It submitted its first National Communication to the UNFCCC in 2003, followed by communications in 2006, 2009 and 2013. For the second Kyoto Protocol commitment period (2012-2020), Belarus committed to cut emissions by 8% compared to 1990, which was later increased to 12%. It has also initiated a process to join the Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol to become eligible for carbon emission trading.