Фото: пресс-служба Лукашенко
Aliaksandr Lukashenka called for the use of wood pellets for heating during a visit to the Shklou District agricultural service enterprise.
“That’s right. We need to gradually and persistently switch to heating with pellets, firewood and other fuels. The Poles now have sky-high pellet prices. They are not buying them. Well, as you wish. The pellets are needed here. They should be used for heating in Belarus,” he said, according to his press service.
Numerous pellet plants were built in Belarus with the expectation of supplying their products to European Union countries. However, in 2022, Lukashenka supported Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. This was followed by a further tightening of sanctions, which closed EU markets to Belarusian pellets. The government then sought to create domestic demand for pellets, including by converting boiler plants to this type of fuel and introducing regulated prices.
“We know how to do this. We have more than enough plants. So pellets, pellets and more pellets. Natural gas or any other fuel source should be used only as a backup,” Lukashenka added.