Belarus and Russia intend to finalise the rules governing the operation of the unified electricity market in the near future. This was reported by the Belarusian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, citing representatives of the country’s authorities.
“This is a rather complex process, as it touches on important national interests of both sides. We already have a signed agreement. We are due to conclude negotiations shortly and sign the rules that will govern the market’s operation,” said Belarus’s Minister of Energy, Denis Moroz. His comments were reported by the state news agency “Minsk-Novosti”.
In early December 2024, Belarus and Russia signed an agreement on the creation of a unified electricity market. It replaced the document that had been in force since November 1999 and sets out the conditions for a gradual transition from simple cross-border power flows to full-scale electricity trading.
Belarus’s power system currently operates in synchronisation with Russia’s. The parties have undertaken to maintain emergency reserves and frequency reserves to ensure the reliable operation of major generation facilities, including the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant.
If, at any given time, one of the countries consumes more electricity or generates less than planned, the shortfall is automatically covered by the integrated power system. Authorised operators then settle the financial accounts for these deviations.
Previously, Belarus obtained the necessary volumes of electricity from the power systems of the Baltic states and Ukraine.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Baltic states disconnected from the Russian and Belarusian power systems, whilst Ukraine synchronised its power system with the European one. As a result, Belarus lost the ability to receive electricity via potential interconnections, which might be required in emergencies or during maintenance work at the Belarusian nuclear power station (NPP).