Belarus receives $15m for biogas CHP projects

Date: 31/01/2018

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is to fund four new biogas-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plants in Belarus.

A $15m loan from the EBRD will finance the construction and commissioning of the plants, which are planned to total 4 MW.

Located in the northwestern Grondo and southwestern Brest regions, the plants are expected to generate 32 GWh per year and to reduce carbon emissions by 15,300 tonnes annually.

Three special-purpose firms owned by Lithuania’s UAB Modus Group will build and commission the plants.

Technical co-operation funds will be provided by Japan through the EBRD Green Economy Transition Project Preparation and Implementation Framework.

The project represents the EBRD’s first direct investment in Belarus’s power sector.

Alex Pivovarsky, EBRD head of Belarus, said the project was “consistent with the EBRD’s country strategy for Belarus and our Green Economy Transition approach” and that it would “improve the energy supply mix in the country and promote the development of renewable energy projects”.

And Harry Boyd-Carpenter, EBRD head of power and energy utilities, said: “We very much hope this will pave the way for more engagement in the country to help the power sector in its transition into a more sustainable and diversified sector.”