21 December, Vitebsk /Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Construction of the Vitebsk Hydroelectric Power Station on the Western Dvina will commence in 2012, as reported to BELTA correspondent by Pavel Kharitonov, General Director of Vitebsk Republican Unitary Enterprise of Electric Power Engineering "Vitebskenergo". Renewable energy sources and local fuels are gaining wider use in the region. Construction of the Polotsk Hydroelectric Power Station was initiated this year and will also continue in 2012. The commissioning of the Polotsk and Vitebsk hydroelectric power stations will allow for an annual saving of over 70 thousand tons of conventional fuel and a reduction in gas purchases by 60 million cubic meters. In 2012, small combined heat and power plants (CHPs) utilizing local fuels will be constructed in Baran and Vitebsk. In the regional centre, the CHP will operate on peat. -0-

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