Italian company to run innovative hydro power projects in Belarus

MINSK, 27 February (BelTA) – Italian company PVB Group SPA has plans to implement innovative projects in hydropower engineering in Belarus, BelTA learnt from the press service of the State Committee for Science and Technology of Belarus.

Member of the Board of PVB Group SPA Plamen Dilkov met with Chairman of the State Committee for Science and Technology Igor Voitov and Deputy Energy Minister of Belarus Mikhail Mikhadyuk. Plamen Dilkov informed that PVB Group SPA has plans to implement several projects in the field of renewable energy in Belarus, in particular, it would like to build several hydro power plants on the country’s major rivers, including the Dnieper, Western Dvina and Neman. Using innovative technologies and solutions of the Italian company, Belarus will be able to generate up to 1000 MW of electric power.

“We have developed a mobile bulb turbine which is operated underwater. It boasts a better performance, because it can benefit from both upper and lower water streams. The technology causes no damage to the environment and has been certified in compliance with European standards,” Plamen Dilkov said. Some five years ago such technologies were non-existent. PVB Group SPA has been working on it for twenty years.

Mikhail Mikhadyuk said that Belarus is interested in the company’s expertise and knowledge in hydropower engineering. The newest technologies to construct hydro power installations would be perfect for Belarus. According to Igor Voitov, Belarusian and Italian companies might set up a joint venture and establish close ties in a bid to enter the markets of third countries. The parties agreed that Belarus will send a delegation of specialists and experts to Italy to tour existing facilities of the company and facilities under construction and to study the company’s best practices. An investment agreement to construct a hydro power plant in Belarus is to be concluded later.

PVB Group SPA is an integrated group of companies that provides technological solutions and energy products in the field of oil industry, renewable energy, design of industrial facilities, etc. The authorized capital of PVB Group SPA exceeds €1 billion, the assets are estimated at over €2 billion. At present the company is running about 30 projects in power engineering, including 14 in Bulgaria, seven in Romania and seven in Italy.