Belarusian Parliament Receives Bill for Ratification of Joint Electricity Market Treaty with Russia

Bill Submitted to Parliament

A bill concerning the ratification of the treaty between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation on the formation of a joint electricity market for the Union State was submitted to the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus on October 10, 2025. This legislative step signifies Belarus' formal consent to the binding nature of the treaty, which is essential for its entry into force. The bill also delineates the government agencies authorized to oversee the joint electricity market from the Belarusian side.

Treaty Background and Objectives

The interstate agreement on the establishment of a united electricity market for the Union State was officially signed by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 6, 2024, during a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in Minsk. The overarching goal of this treaty is to foster a common energy space, thereby enhancing coordination and interaction in power engineering between the two nations. Key objectives include:

• Increasing the reliability of energy supply and bolstering energy security for both Belarus and Russia, as well as the Union State as a whole.
• Minimizing losses within power grids.
• Balancing tariffs across the unified market.
• Ensuring the mutual flow of electricity.
• Creating an equal competitive environment with a diverse range of price offers.

Ultimately, this initiative aligns with the broader aim, stipulated in the 1999 Union State Treaty, to unite all energy markets, encompassing both gas and electricity.

Implementation and Future Outlook

The formation of the common electricity market is planned to occur in stages. According to Belarusian Energy Minister Aleksei Kushnarenko, the market will be established gradually, taking into account the parallel operation and distinct technological and organizational features of the two countries' energy systems. The rules for the market's functioning have been developed and are undergoing approval procedures, with completion tentatively expected in the first half of 2025. Initially, all relationships within the market will be managed through authorized grid operators from both the Belarusian and Russian sides.

The first stage of operation will involve electricity trade between authorized legal entities. Subsequent stages are anticipated to bring deeper integration, an expansion of market participants, and the unification of operational dispatch control. There are plans for the joint market to commence operations by January 1, 2025, with a unified market for the broader Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) targeted for 2027. For Belarus, the unified market presents an opportunity to export surplus electricity generated by the Ostrovets (Astravets) nuclear power plant, particularly given the closure of traditional export markets in the Baltic States, Ukraine, and Poland due to sanctions.