Energy in Belarus

{{Short description|none}}  [[File:Belarus electricity production.svg|thumb|Belarus electricity supply by source|350px]] [[File:Power plants in Belarus.png|thumb|300px|Map of power plants]] [[File:Lukoml power station 20090919 01.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Lukoml power station]]]] [[File:Power lines in Belarus — ЛЭП в Беларуси — ЛЭП у Беларусі.png|thumb|right|300px|Power lines (220, 330 и 750 kv) in Belarus]] [[File:2023.06.13 Astravets Nuclear Power Plant Belarus.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Astravets Nuclear Power Plant]] in 2023]]

Most [[World energy resources and consumption|energy]] in [[Belarus]] is cheap [[Natural gas in Russia|fossil gas from Russia]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ritchie |first=Hannah |last2=Roser |first2=Max |last3=Rosado |first3=Pablo |date=2022-10-27 |title=Energy |url=https://ourworldindata.org/energy/country/belarus |journal=Our World in Data |language=en}}</ref> and Belarus is a net energy importer. According to [[International Energy Agency|IEA]], the energy import vastly exceeded the [[energy production]] in 2015, describing Belarus as one of the world's least energy sufficient countries in the world.<ref name="iea-profile">{{Citation | url = https://www.iea.org/reports/belarus-energy-profile | title = Belarus energy profile | publisher = [[International Energy Agency]] | access-date = May 26, 2021 }}</ref> Belarus imports oil from Russia,<ref>{{Citation | url = https://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/pages/publication12678_en.pdf | title = The Economic Aspects of the Energy Sector in CIS Countries | publisher = [[European Commission]] | access-date = May 26, 2021 }}</ref> and sends back some refined products such as gasoline.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Russia increases gasoline imports from Belarus as domestic supplies shrink |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/russia-increases-gasoline-imports-belarus-domestic-supplies-shrink-2024-03-27/}}</ref>

Total energy consumption (measured by total primary energy supply) in Belarus was 27.0 Mtoe in 2018, similar to consumption in Norway and Hungary.<ref name="iea-profile"/> Primary energy use in Belarus was 327 TWh or 34 TWh per million persons in 2008.<ref name=IEA2010>[http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2010/key_stats_2010.pdf IEA Key energy statistics 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011091637/http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2010/key_stats_2010.pdf |date=2010-10-11 }} Page: Country specific indicator numbers from page 48</ref>

Primary energy use per capita in Belarus in 2009 (34 MWh) was slightly more than in [[Energy in Portugal|Portugal]] (26 MWh) and about half of the use in [[Energy in Belgium|Belgium]] (64 MWh) or [[Energy in Sweden|Sweden]] (62 MWh).<ref name="IEA2010"/>

Electricity consumed in 2021 was 32.67 billion kWh, 3,547 kWh per capita.<ref name="wor11"/>

== Overview == {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right" |+ Energy in Belarus<ref>{{cite web |title=Energy Statistics Data Browser |url=https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-tools/energy-statistics-data-browser?country=BELARUS |publisher=[[International Energy Agency]] |access-date=21 July 2025}}</ref> |- ! ! Population (million) ! Total energy supply (TWh) ! Production (TWh) ! Net Import (TWh) ! Electricity (TWh) ! CO2-emission (Mt) |- | align="left" | 1990|| 10.19|| 518.8|| 39.5|| 489.7|| 44.6|| 99.8 |- | align="left" | 1991|| 10.19|| 504.3|| 41.1|| 464.8|| 44.8|| 96.2 |- | align="left" | 1992|| 10.22|| 423.6|| 41.4|| 381.5|| 40.0|| 86.8 |- | align="left" | 1993|| 10.24|| 360.5|| 38.2|| 322.3|| 35.3|| 75.4 |- | align="left" | 1994|| 10.23|| 307.7|| 40.9|| 264.2|| 31.4|| 64.0 |- | align="left" | 1995|| 10.19|| 281.1|| 39.4|| 251.2|| 28.4|| 56.9 |- | align="left" | 1996|| 10.16|| 287.6|| 39.7|| 247.0|| 28.5|| 57.8 |- | align="left" | 1997|| 10.12|| 287.9|| 39.7|| 261.1|| 29.9|| 58.2 |- | align="left" | 1998|| 10.07|| 279.0|| 38.4|| 249.7|| 30.4|| 56.3 |- | align="left" | 1999|| 10.03|| 275.0|| 42.1|| 237.8|| 30.1|| 54.1 |- | align="left" | 2000|| 9.98|| 279.7|| 41.0|| 245.2|| 29.9|| 52.1 |- | align="left" | 2001|| 9.93|| 279.9|| 42.3|| 244.8|| 29.9|| 50.9 |- | align="left" | 2002|| 9.87|| 287.2|| 43.3|| 247.8|| 29.6|| 50.8 |- | align="left" | 2003|| 9.80|| 295.4|| 41.9|| 257.6|| 30.0|| 51.4 |- | align="left" | 2004|| 9.73|| 309.1|| 42.4|| 270.5|| 30.9|| 54.5 |- | align="left" | 2005|| 9.66|| 308.1|| 44.6|| 266.5|| 31.4|| 55.0 |- | align="left" | 2006|| 9.60|| 327.9|| 45.6|| 286.5|| 32.3|| 57.2 |- | align="left" | 2007|| 9.56|| 321.0|| 46.4|| 275.6|| 32.4|| 55.7 |- | align="left" | 2008|| 9.53|| 323.9|| 46.1|| 285.8|| 33.2|| 58.4 |- | align="left" | 2009|| 9.51|| 303.8|| 45.7|| 257.5|| 31.4|| 55.3 |- | align="left" | 2010|| 9.48|| 316.7|| 47.0|| 271.4|| 33.8|| 59.5 |- | align="left" | 2011|| 9.46|| 333.5|| 48.7|| 285.3|| 34.4|| 56.4 |- | align="left" | 2012|| 9.45|| 346.1|| 48.3|| 308.6|| 35.0|| 57.5 |- | align="left" | 2013|| 9.44|| 308.9|| 46.4|| 273.4|| 34.5|| 57.5 |- | align="left" | 2014|| 9.45|| 317.9|| 43.1|| 282.0|| 34.9|| 56.8 |- | align="left" | 2015|| 9.46|| 290.1|| 41.7|| 248.7|| 33.8|| 52.6 |- | align="left" | 2016|| 9.47|| 287.6|| 42.5|| 242.1|| 33.7|| 53.0 |- | align="left" | 2017|| 9.46|| 293.6|| 46.1|| 251.5|| 34.2|| 54.0 |- | align="left" | 2018|| 9.44|| 313.8|| 48.2|| 269.1|| 35.2|| 57.1 |- | align="left" | 2019|| 9.42|| 303.5|| 50.8|| 256.8|| 35.4|| 55.4 |- | align="left" | 2020|| 9.38|| 292.2|| 51.7|| 244.6|| 35.3|| 52.5 |- | align="left" | 2021|| 9.30|| 317.2|| 70.2|| 248.1|| 38.1|| 53.1 |- | align="left" | 2022|| 9.21|| 307.9|| 71.9|| 236.8|| 36.0|| 50.5 |- | align="left" | Change 1990-2022 || -9.6%|| -40.6%|| 82.0%|| -51.6%|| -19.3%|| -49.4% |}

== Power plants == {| class="wikitable" |- ! Name !! Region/city !! Capacity, MW<ref>[http://www.energo.by/content/deyatelnost-obedineniya/osnovnye-pokazateli/ustanovlennaya-moshchnost/ Установленная мощность, кВт] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113093240/http://www.energo.by/content/deyatelnost-obedineniya/osnovnye-pokazateli/ustanovlennaya-moshchnost/ |date=2018-01-13 }} {{in lang|ru}}</ref> |- | [[Lukoml power station|Lukoml GRES]] || [[Vitebsk Region]] || 2,889 |- | [[Byaroza power station|Byaroza GRES]] || [[Brest Region]] || 1,095 |- | Minsk thermal No. 4 || [[Minsk]] city || 1,035 |- | Minsk thermal No. 5 || [[Minsk Region]] || 719.6 |- | Gomel thermal No. 2 || [[Gomel]] city || 544 |- | Minsk thermal No. 3 || [[Minsk]] city || 442 |- | Mogilev thermal No. 2 || [[Mogilev]] city || 347 |- | Grodno thermal No. 2 || [[Grodno]] city || 302.5 |- | Novopolotsk thermal || [[Novopolotsk]] city || 270 |- | Mazyr thermal || [[Mazyr]] city || 205 |- | Babruysk thermal No. 2 || [[Babruysk]] city || 182.6 |- | Svietlahorsk thermal || [[Svietlahorsk]] city || 155 |- | Minsk thermal No. 2 || [[Minsk]] city || 94 |- | Viciebsk thermal || [[Vitebsk]] city || 80 |- | Orsha thermal || [[Orsha]] city || 79.8 |- | Barysaw thermal || [[Barysaw]] city || 65 |- | Zhodzina thermal || [[Zhodzina]] city || 54 |- | Lida thermal || [[Lida]] city || 43 |- | Vitebsk hydro || [[Vitebsk Region]] || 40 |- | Mogilev thermal No. 1 || [[Mogilev]] city || 38.5 |- | Gomel thermal No. 1 || [[Gomel]] city || 37.3 |- | Zhlobin thermal || [[Zhlobin]] city || 26.2 |- | Pinsk thermal || [[Pinsk]] city || 22 |- | Polotsk hydro || [[Vitebsk Region]] || 21.7 |- | Mogilev thermal No. 3 || [[Mogilev]] city || 19.5 |- | Baranavichy thermal || [[Baranavichy]] city || 18 |- | Grodno hydro || [[Grodno Region]] || 17 |- | Brest thermal || [[Brest, Belarus|Brest]] city || 12 |- | Babruysk thermal No. 1 || [[Babruysk]] city || 12 |}

The [[Astravets Nuclear Power Plant]] became operational in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Belarus reopens nuclear power plant after replacing equipment |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/markets/belarus-reopens-nuclear-power-plant-after-replacing-equipment-idUSL8N2I50X6/ |work=[[Reuters]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250721094401/https://www.reuters.com/article/markets/belarus-reopens-nuclear-power-plant-after-replacing-equipment-idUSL8N2I50X6/ |archive-date=21 July 2025|date=19 November 2020}}</ref> In 2024, it produced 15.7 TWh of electricity generating up to 40% of the country's supply.<ref>{{cite web |title=Белорусская АЭС выработала 40 млрд. кВтч электроэнергии |url=https://belaes.by/ru/novosti/item/4791-belorusskaya-aes-vyrabotala-40-mlrd-kvtch-elektroenergii.html |website=belaes.by |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250628171607/https://belaes.by/ru/novosti/item/4791-belorusskaya-aes-vyrabotala-40-mlrd-kvtch-elektroenergii.html |archive-date=28 June 2025 |language=ru |date=26 February 2025 |trans-title=Belarusian NPP generated 40 billion kWh of electricity |access-date=21 July 2025 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Natural gas == The country is one of the world’s largest importers of natural gas with estimates for 2018 being about 17 Mtoe (20 billion cubic metres [bcm]) of natural gas, making it the leading importer among the so-called EU4Energy countries: [[Armenia]], [[Azerbaijan]], Belarus, [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Moldova]], [[Tajikistan]], [[Turkmenistan]], [[Ukraine]] and [[Uzbekistan]]. In 2018 almost all generated electricity came from [[natural gas]] (97%, or 39 terawatt hours [TWh]).<ref name="iea-profile"/> In 1990, the IEA reported natural gas as constituting 52% of electricity generation, with oil generating 48%.<ref name="iea.1990">{{citation| url=http://www.iea.org/statistics/statisticssearch/report/?country=BELARUS&product=electricityandheat&year=1990| title=IEA statistics: Belarus 1990| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022152836/http://www.iea.org/statistics/statisticssearch/report/?country=BELARUS&product=electricityandheat&year=1990|archive-date=2014-10-22 }}</ref>

There are two large gas pipes running through Belarus, the [[Yamal–Europe pipeline]] and [[Northern Lights (pipeline)|Northern Lights]]. In addition there is the [[Minsk–Kaliningrad Interconnection]] that connects to [[Kaliningrad]].

In 2021 18.64 billion m3 were consumed with 0.06 billion produced, the rest imported.<ref name="wor11"/>

== Oil == [[File:Major gas and oil pipelines in Belarus.png|thumb|Oil refineries, {{green|oil}} and {{red|gas}} pipelines in Belarus]] Belarus is a large oil refiner, listed 36th in the world, at 19 Mt of oil products in 2018 by the IEA.<ref name="iea-profile"/> It has two refineries and oil pipelines built during the Soviet era including the [[Mozyr Oil Refinery]].

Oil consumed in 2021 amounted to 49.13m barrels with 12.52 m barrels produced, the rest imported.<ref name="wor11">{{cite web |title=Energy consumption in Belarus |url=https://www.worlddata.info/europe/belarus/energy-consumption.php |access-date=11 November 2023}}</ref>

== Renewable energy == {{main|Renewable energy in Belarus}} Renewable energy generation accounted for 6% of Belarus’s energy in 2018, rising to 8% in 2020, mostly from [[biofuel]]s and waste. Renewables share in electricity generation was 2% in 2018 (0.8 TWh).<ref name="iea-profile"/>

{|class=wikitable |+Years in which the last three renewable power levels achieved <ref name="wor11"/> |- !Achievement!!Year !!Achievement!!Year !!Achievement!!Year |- | 4% || 1999 || 6% || 2001 ||8% || 2020 |- |} Renewable energy includes wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy sources.

== Storage == Because non-nuclear thermal power plants are ramped up and down depending on heat requirements, and nuclear is not very flexible, increased battery storage has been suggested.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How the energy system of Belarus should develop in order to stay beneficial. Forecast|url=https://ecoidea.me/en/article/4676|access-date=2021-12-23|website=ecoidea.me}}</ref>

== Subsidies == Fossil fuelled heat is heavily subsidized.<ref name=Irena2021>{{Cite web|title=Renewables Readiness Assessment: Belarus|url=https://www.irena.org/publications/2021/Jul/Renewables-Readiness-Assessment-Belarus|access-date=2021-12-23|website=/publications/2021/Jul/Renewables-Readiness-Assessment-Belarus}}</ref>{{Rp|page=62}}

== See also == {{Commons category|Energy in Belarus }} {{Portal|Energy|Belarus}}

* [https://nadoloni.com Map of Belarusian power grids] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707082150/https://nadoloni.com/ |date=2017-07-07 }} * [[Druzhba pipeline]] * [[2004 Russia–Belarus gas dispute]] * [[2007 Russia–Belarus energy dispute]]

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Belarus, Energy In}} [[Category:Energy in Belarus| ]]