7 February 2010
Authorities consider borrowing $5.7 billion from China to build high-speed railway line between Minsk and Homyel

A Chinese loan may be used to fund the construction of a high-speed railway line between Minsk and Homyel, Alyaksandr Yakabson, head of the Homyel Regional Executive Committee, said at a news conference on Friday.

Trains that will run on the line will not be capable of a speed of 300 kilometers per hour, Mr. Yakabson said.

Alyaksandr Lukashenka ordered the management of Belarusian Railways to construct a line for rail services with an average speed of 160 kilometers per hour, he said.

According to Mr. Yakabson, China is ready to lend $5.7 billion for the project on condition that Belarus buys 50 percent of necessary equipment and technologies from China.

“The proposal is interesting for us, because this industry is well advanced in China. They build electric and diesel engine trains,” he noted.

Mr. Yakabson also commented on the Belarusian leader’s plan to develop Palesse, the area along the River Prypyats in southern Belarus. As part of the plan, a railway line is projected to be built between Stolin and Mazyr where there are deposits of natural resources.

“The president ordered the cabinet to do project planning,” Mr. Yakabson said. “There is a big granite deposit in Hlushkavichy, with its reserves estimated to last up to 300 years. Granite tiles could be made there. There are natural resources such as chalk and clay at Palesse. This is a serious project and it will be implemented.” //BelaPAN