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Government forms delegation to Belarusian-Lithuanian energy cooperation commission

The government has formed the Belarusian delegation to a Belarusian-Lithuanian energy cooperation commission, said the Council of Ministers press office, as quoted by BelaPAN.

In particular, Prime Minister Syarhey Sidorski has appointed First Deputy Prime Minister Uladzimir Syamashka to head the delegation.

The delegation also includes Eduard Tawpyanets, first deputy minister of energy; Uladzimir Volkaw, deputy head of the Belarusian State Petrochemical Industry Concern (Belnaftakhim); and representatives of the ministries of economy, justice and transportation, the State Property Committee, AAT Beltranshaz (gas supply company) and Belarusian Oil Company.

The commission is to generate proposals by November 1 for the construction of a natural gas liquefaction plant in Lithuania to supply liquefied gas to Belarus, and the delivery of crude oil to Belarus via Lithuania’s seaports.

An agreement to establish such a commission was reached during Mr. Sidorski’s meeting with Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius in Minsk on June 28.

“We could combine our financial resources to build a gas liquefaction plant in [Lithuania’s] Klaipeda and pump gas to Belarus through a gas transportation network,” Mr. Sidorski said. “The 285-kilometer-long pipeline won`t cost much. The project will pay off and be very efficient.”