Belarus is simplifying procedures in the field of energy conservation. The relevant resolution was signed by Belarusian Prime Minister Alexander Turchin, BELTA was informed by the government's press service.

The document streamlines the operating conditions for organizations in the energy conservation sector and represents a key step in implementing the state strategy for debureaucratization and creating favorable conditions for the development of the real economy.

In particular, approaches to the regulation of fuel and energy resources (FER) consumption have been revised, and administrative interactions have been simplified. With the adoption of these changes, the procedure has become significantly easier. Powers are distributed as follows: the Department for Energy Efficiency establishes norms for legal entities with annual FER consumption of 50,000 tonnes of conventional fuel or more, as well as for those with consumption of less than 300 tonnes of conventional fuel that have thermal energy sources with a capacity of 0.5 Gcal/h or more (norms are established only for these sources). Regional and Minsk city supervisory administrations establish norms for legal entities with annual FER consumption from 300 to 50,000 tonnes of conventional fuel and in other cases not falling within the department's competence.

A special procedure is introduced for legal entities with consumption of less than 300 tonnes of conventional fuel that have heat sources of 0.5 Gcal/h or more. By November 1 of the year preceding the introduction of the norms, the Department establishes uniform norms depending on the type of fuel and publishes them on its official website. Documents for the establishment of these norms are submitted to the regional and Minsk city supervisory administrations. This relieves organizations from the need to individually develop norms for each heat source, reducing administrative and financial burden.

Individual norms are retained: if calculated energy consumption objectively exceeds the uniform norms due to technological specifics, equipment condition, operating conditions, or fuel quality, the legal entity has the right to submit supporting documents, and the department may establish an individual norm.

Also changed is the procedure for organizing and conducting energy surveys (energy audits). The requirements for energy audit organizations are now focused on two factors. The first is professional staff — at least three expert energy auditors who meet the professional competence requirements established by energy conservation legislation. The second is technical equipment — the availability of calibrated measuring instruments for taking measurements of the parameters specified in the technical assignment. Mandatory energy audits are conducted for legal entities with annual fuel and energy resource consumption of 1,500 tons of reference fuel or more. For others, audits are voluntary, including in the form of express energy audits.

A simplified regime is provided for industry leaders. For enterprises with a certified energy management system in accordance with GOST ISO 50001-2021, a streamlined energy audit regime has been introduced. The scope of their report is limited to three key blocks: an analysis of the efficiency of fuel and energy resource use over the three years preceding the audit, a report on the implementation of previously planned measures, and the identification of priority areas for future savings. This relieves conscientious consumers from excessive duplication of internal control and external audit functions.

"The measures adopted by the government make it possible to reduce the number of coordination procedures, clearly delineate the powers of the Department for Energy Efficiency and its territorial bodies, introduce uniform standards for small consumers while maintaining an individual approach when necessary, increase the accessibility of energy audits by removing excessive barriers, extend planning timelines to improve the quality of measures developed. As well as reduce the burden on organizations with a certified energy management system and move the procedure for establishing standards to electronic format through the E-Pasluga portal," the press service noted.

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