13 October, Minsk /BELTA correspondent/. The energy intensity of GDP in Belarus by the end of 2006-2010 will decrease by 31% in line with the planned five-year forecast. This was announced to a BELTA correspondent by Viktor Akushko, First Deputy Director of the Department for Energy Efficiency of the State Committee for Standardization, at the Belarusian Energy and Environmental Forum in Minsk. Furthermore, the target for reducing GDP energy intensity set for 2010, which is minus 8-10%, will also be met. "Although by the end of January-August, GDP energy intensity has decreased by only 3%, we are not abandoning this task and will work to bring this indicator to minus 8.2% by the end of the year, which is already becoming visible. The further increase in the growth rate of production in the real sector of the country's economy gives us confidence in achieving this result," said the representative of the Department for Energy Efficiency. He also explained why GDP energy intensity is decreasing slowly in 2010. Belarus did not import electricity from Russia this year, but used its own. There were also power flows from Ukraine, but in small volumes. "We generated electricity from our own sources, and they are not yet sufficiently efficient," stated Viktor Akushko. During the summer period, when more efficient equipment was stopped for repairs, it was necessary to switch on other equipment with high specific consumption rates. This also contributed to the slow decrease in energy intensity. Today, Belarus's growing industry requires more energy resources. After last year's production decline, the growth rates of industrial production in some sectors of the real economy are now reaching 118-124%. In this case, the production growth rates exceed the consumption rates of fuel and energy resources, which contributes to the reduction of energy intensity, the interlocutor noted. He also acknowledged that the early start of heating this autumn will also be costly for the energy sector. "We understand this and do not disregard it, but overall for the year, there is an opportunity to achieve the planned forecast for reducing GDP energy intensity, and thus fulfill the five-year task," concluded Viktor Akushko.-0-

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