The Concept of Energy Security of Belarus as a Benchmark for CEE Countries

Belarus, like many Central and Eastern European countries, is vulnerable in terms of energy security, as it largely depends on a single supplier of energy resources - Russia. The Belarusian economy is almost entirely based on imported natural gas. In addition, the petrochemical industry - one of the most profitable sector - uses Russia’s oil. Belarus, which has always had good relations with Moscow and could have benefited from many privileges in the sphere of energy, found itself in a perplexing situation in the first decade of the 21st century. The reason was Russian companies which began introducing market prices for energy resources. More frequent energy conflicts on the line Russia-Belarus drew attention of Belarusian government to the issue of energy security, and as a result the concept of energy security and independency appeared. How can a fully energy dependent country strive for better state of energy security? In what terms is the Belarusian concept an inovative one and how can it serve as a good example for other CEE countries? Can Russia, through its rigorous energy policy, loose the closest ally? These are the questions that the paper adresses.