OSCE Office in Minsk promotes best policies for renewable energy

MINSK, 22 October 2009 - A workshop on policies and tariffs for alternative renewable energy in Eastern Europe, organized by the OSCE Office in Minsk and the Belarus Department for Energy Efficiency in co-operation with the International Sakharov Environmental University, opened in Minsk today. 

The discussions focused on best practices to develop adaptable policies and tariffs for the promotion of renewable energy within a national energy mix in the context of climate change and the global economic crisis.

"Supporting Belarus in achieving the best energy policies to increase energy efficiency, combat climate change and make the best use of available natural resources is a critical task of the OSCE Office," said Jandos Asanov, the Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Minsk, opening the workshop.

Leonid Shenets, the Head of the Department for Energy Efficiency, said in his opening remarks: "Reducing our dependency on fossil fuels while increasing energy efficiency is critical for the development of Belarus. In this context a law on alternative energies is to be examined by the Parliament this autumn."

Rector Semion Kundas from the International Sakharov Environmental University added: "The University places importance on educating specialists, engineers and managers in the field of renewable energies and the exchange on best practices with European experts is extremely beneficial for further developments in this area."

Government experts, parliamentarians and academics as well as civil society representatives took part in the event.