1 April, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. The construction of a combined cycle power plant at the Lukomlskaya State District Power Station is ahead of schedule. This was announced today by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, at a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Belarus, Gong Jianwei, BELTA correspondent reports.
The PRC Ambassador is visiting the Vitebsk region for the second time. "It is gratifying that all agreements reached during the first meeting are being successfully implemented. Cooperation between Belarus and China is a prime example of effective partnership in all spheres and in all areas of socio-economic interaction," emphasized the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee.
Alexander Kosinets noted that 2 major investment projects are being implemented in the Vitebsk region with the participation of Chinese investments. Thus, at the Lukomlskaya State District Power Station in January of this year, with the participation of the Chinese Ambassador, the construction of a combined cycle power plant with a capacity of 427 MW was launched. The project involves an investment of almost $370 million. Its implementation will save 242 thousand tons of conventional fuel per year, which will amount to Br513 billion in monetary terms. The advantage of the plant is the high efficiency of the combined cycle – 57%, while the 300 MW units of the State District Power Station have an efficiency of 39.4%. "The construction of the combined cycle power plant is two weeks ahead of schedule," stressed the governor. Another significant project for the region is the construction of the Vitebsk Hydroelectric Power Station with a capacity of 40 MW on the Western Dvina River. It is planned that it will generate about 170 million kWh annually. The implementation of this project will begin this year.
Touching upon other areas of cooperation and the implementation of new joint investment projects, Alexander Kosinets proposed that the ambassador consider the possibilities of organizing supplies of Chinese tea to meet the domestic needs of the region, the participation of Chinese investors in the creation of logistics centers, and the opening of an assembly production of SUV vehicles. Sites for the implementation of the latter project are available in Vitebsk and Orsha.
Furthermore, during negotiations between Vitebsk and Harbin, partner cities have agreements on participation in projects related to modern technologies. Chinese investors can take advantage of this and participate in the creation of a Silicon Valley in Vitebsk. Preliminary agreements have been reached on the establishment of joint ventures for processing flax, fish, and potatoes (in Tolochin District). Also, during negotiations in Harbin, Chinese partners expressed their desire to familiarize themselves with the natural resources of the Vitebsk region, which gives an impetus to the development of cooperation in tourism and the hotel business.
"We need to intensify mutually beneficial partnership. And this work will yield its positive results. In all areas (industry, agro-industrial complex, construction, energy, radio electronics, social sphere), we have opportunities for the closest cooperation and the creation of competitive innovative products," emphasized Alexander Kosinets.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the PRC to Belarus, Gong Jianwei, arrived in the Vitebsk region today. The program of stay includes meetings with representatives of the local authorities of Vitebsk and Polotsk, visits to Vitebsk State University, resident enterprises of FEZ "Vitebsk", Polotsk Dairy Plant, and participation in the opening of a PRC photo exhibition at the Vitebsk Regional Museum of Local Lore, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Belarus and China. One of the goals of the ambassador's three-day working trip is to familiarize himself with the progress of the implementation of Belarusian-Chinese investment projects and with promising areas of cooperation. "We have achieved a lot over the past time, but Belarus and China still have opportunities to be realized," emphasized Gong Jianwei.
The foreign trade turnover of the Vitebsk region with the People's Republic of China for 2011 increased by 18% compared to 2010 and amounted to $176 million, of which exports accounted for $36.6 million and imports for $139.4 million. The annual foreign trade turnover of the region's enterprises with the PRC is constantly increasing. The basis of exports in 2010-2011 was chemical industry products: lubricants, solvents, acrylic tow and fibers, chemical compounds (JSC "Naftan"). During the specified period, flax fiber, linen yarn (RUE "Orsha Linen Mill"), glass fabrics (JSC "Polotsk-Glass Fiber"), optical instruments and measuring equipment, cathode ray tubes, apparatus parts, integrated circuits, and voltage regulators were exported. Enterprises not under departmental subordination exported leather and wooden products. In January 2012, supplies of synthetic tow, flax fiber, and fiberglass continued. The basis of imports in the last two years consisted of shoe parts, herbicides, electronic lamps and tubes, sheepskins, and chemical compounds. Organizations and enterprises of the region also purchase medicines and herbicides.
BELTA