MINSK, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Belarusian lawmakers have approved a treaty with Russia to establish a unified electricity market within the Union State, the press service of the Belarusian parliament said on Wednesday.
The legislation aims to complete domestic procedures needed for Belarus to consent to the agreement and designates the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade as the entities responsible for overseeing and operating the joint market, the press service said.
The treaty seeks to create equal terms between Russia and Belarus, ultimately allowing consumers to choose their electricity suppliers, said Anton Karankevich, a member of the House of Representatives' Standing Commission on Industry, Energy, Transport, Communications and Digital Development.
He added that the legislative framework will boost energy and economic security and ensure a reliable power supply.
The next step is a joint gas market, since the cost of electricity primarily depends on gas prices, Karankevich said, adding that most of Belarusian electricity is currently generated from gas, with the nuclear plant covering about 40 percent.
