On October 31, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. The preparatory stage for the construction of the Vitebsk Hydroelectric Power Station (HPS) is planned to be completed in the first quarter of 2013, Ivan Pugachev, head of the construction department of the Vitebsk HPS branch of the Vitebsk Electric Networks of RUP "Vitebskenergo", told a BELTA correspondent. According to him, about 800 builders will be involved in the construction of the HPS, so work is currently underway on the right bank of the Western Dvina near the village of Bukatino to equip a temporary base for them. In particular, dormitories, offices, and a canteen are being built from modular units. Simultaneously, trees are being felled on the main construction site. In the near future, the project for the construction of access roads will be ready, which will allow builders to start their construction. The main asphalt road will run along the right bank of the Western Dvina from the side of Ruba through Bukatino and will remain after the completion of the HPS construction. The second, temporary road, will lead to the main construction site on the left bank of the river past the village of Podberezye. The preparatory stage for the construction of the Vitebsk HPS is planned to be fully completed in the first quarter of 2013, so that the construction of the hydro-node can begin in the spring, the interlocutor noted. Ivan Pugachev recalled that the turnkey contract for the construction of the Vitebsk HPS was concluded with the China National Electric Equipment Corporation (CNEEC). Its cost is over $100 million. At the same time, according to the document, Belarusian enterprises must be involved in the construction and Belarusian building materials must be used for 30% of the contract value. Control over this is carried out by the customer - RUP "Vitebskenergo". The start of the main construction stage is scheduled for March-April 2013, when the architectural design for the construction of the hydro-node is expected to be ready. In general, it will resemble the Polotsk HPS: an diversion channel with two dams will also be built, after which the hydroelectric power station itself will be erected. The difference is in greater capacity, which the Vitebsk HPS will generate at 40 MW. This will provide electricity to a third of the Vitebsk region, the specialist emphasized, adding that the Vitebsk HPS should deliver its first electricity in January 2017. After that, within 12 months, a lock for watercraft will be built on the left bank of the river.