Empirical Evaluation Of Gdp Energy Intensity Reduction In Belarus As Response To The Global Crisis

Abstract

The progress in the sphere of energy efficiency achieved during the Belarusian independence period is obvious and seems to be the best among the CIS countries. This is recognized by all experts including the international ones [1]. By the moment of the independence declared the Belarusian economy was one of the most energy wasteful in the world with energy intensity (TPES/GDP PPP) coming in 1990 to 0,78 toe per thousand 2000 USD [2]. During the period of 1990 – 2007 due to the system state policy encouraging the energy saving the Belarusian GDP energy intensity decreased by 2.3 times to 0,34 toe per thousand 2000 USD (the GDP of 2007 exceeding the GDP of 1990 in 1.5 times). Yet the achieved energy consumption level is 2 times as higher than the average of the OECD and 1.7 times higher than the world average (Figure 1). Comparatively low rate of the energy efficiency of the Belarusian economy and high rate of the power dependence makes the issue of the energy price and supply terms one of the most significant factors of the national economic security.