Belarus’ cement plants are expected to increase the use of dried peat as fuel to 180,000 tons by 2020, up by 50% from the 2016 level, Belarus’ Energy Ministry reported.
Belarus has been actively promoting the use of dried peat as an alternative fuel at cement plants – they are expected to burn 120,000 tons of dried peat in 2016.
Peat in Belarus is available at an extremely competitive price compared to the cost of natural gas, coal and wood chips. Peat is currently used as fuel for heat power production in numerous Belarusian towns.
Belarus extracted 1.201 million tons of peat in 2015, with 676,800 tons of peat briquettes produced. Belarus exported 86,600 tons of peat briquettes in 2015.
Since 2008 Belarus has upgraded 18 briquette factories, which have the capacity to produce up to 1.4 million tons of peat briquettes a year. (Prime-TASS/Business World Magazine)