29 December, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. Foreign investors are showing interest in the construction of hydroelectric power plants in Belarus, Deputy Minister of Energy Mikhail Mikhaduk told a BELTA correspondent. Alongside the construction of energy facilities using its own funds, innovation fund resources, and credit facilities, the Ministry of Energy is also attracting foreign direct investment into the power sector, despite these being capital-intensive facilities. According to Mikhail Mikhaduk, negotiations are currently underway with Turkish and Chinese companies for the construction of hydroelectric power plants on the Western Dvina, Neman, and Dnieper rivers. "Foreign investors have expressed interest in three facilities: the Beshenkovichi and Verkhnedvinsk power plants on the Western Dvina, and the Nemnovskaya HPP," the Deputy Minister clarified. As previously reported, agreements have already been reached on the participation of Chinese investors in the construction of the Vitebsk HPP with a capacity of 40 MW, which is planned to be commissioned on the Western Dvina River in 2015. The HPP will allow for the substitution of approximately 42 thousand tons of fuel annually. The China Development Bank will allocate $189 million for the financing of the project. A turnkey construction contract for the facility has been concluded with the China National Electric Equipment Corporation (CNEEC). -0-

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