By Svetlana Lukyaniuk: By the end of its autumn session, Belarusian senators voted for the budget for the next year and together with deputies talked to the Government. At the end of each month, representatives of the Council of Ministers present their report in the Oval Hall. Today, they discussed the fuel and energy complex, renewal and construction of new industries, as well as the active application of innovations.
Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko spoke today about the demand for electric buses, the prices for Belarusian Geely cars and the modernization of the oil industry. The target volume is up to 12 million tons per year and the processing should reach 90%. JSC Mozyr Oil Refinery is expected to reach such capacities by mid-2019, OJSC Naftan - in 2020.
Starting next year, Belarus will not buy electricity from Russia. The only question that remains open is the gas prices. More precisely, the price the country will be charged in three to seven years. Belarus expects the price of gas to be at the level of Smolensk Oblast. At the moment, it is twice as high. Hence the unequal competition of producers.
In terms of industry, Belarus has big plans. This year, the industry grew by 6%. Next year, expectations will be high for Belgee. Now, the enterprise is planning an output of 25,000 cars. In three years, it should reach 60,000.
Also, the Government is ready to provide financial aid to Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) and Belarusian Steel Works (BMZ). The aid will be aimed at restructuring debts on condition the enterprises will repay the loans they had taken from banks.
Finally, the Council of the Republic voted for the budget 2018 and the non-budget social protection fund, from which pensions and benefits are paid. Next year, much work is to be done to amend the Tax Code.
