Gomel oblast in one of most gasified regions in Belarus

In conformity with the program of gasification of individual residential houses in contaminated regions of Gomel oblast for 2001-2005, a total of 7,000 houses were gasified. These data was made public by president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in his speech at the ceremony of inauguration of the natural gas in Oktyabrskiy, Gomel oblast. The head of state emphasized “embarking on the country’s gasification we were driven by the desire to maximally mitigate consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe and make the life of people living in contaminated regions easy”. Alexander Lukashenko noted that colossal funds were spent for the purpose. The aggregate costs in the area amount to USD 1 billion. Yet Belarus managed to find the funds and motivate people for this large-scale project. According to the president, Gomel oblast is one of the most gasified oblasts. Now all 18 towns of the oblast, 12 small towns and 230 villages are supplied with gas. The consumers of the blue fuel are 323 industrial, 742 municipal and 102 agricultural companies. More than 372,000 flats, including 45,000 in rural areas, were gasified.