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Environmental official cautious about introduction of emissions tax for companies

The introduction of a tax on greenhouse gas emissions may deal a serious blow to some companies, warned Alyaksandr Rachewski, a departmental head at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, as quoted by BelaPAN.

The consequences of the move should be closely studied, the official said while speaking at a meeting held by the ministry’s Coordinating Council for Environment in Minsk on Wednesday.

"Some companies continue using outdated technologies that are not designed to cut emissions of carbon dioxide,” Mr. Rachewski said. “The emissions tax may be very high for the companies, and we will simply ruin them financially.”

The government should consider the pace of the country’s development and available resources to modernize the industry in the decision-making process, he said. The official suggested that it would be wiser to introduce the tax “in the long run.”