The urban-type settlement of Loyev in Gomel region has received a remarkable and long-awaited present, timed to coincide with its 500th anniversary: this population centre has been gasified. The ceremony of launching the supply of this ecologically clean fuel was attended on October 21 by President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.

The Head of State surveyed in detail the social and economic situation in Loyev district and in the entire Gomel region, communicated with the residents of the district.

Creation of favourable conditions, provision of natural gas for the residents of Chernobyl affected areas are important priorities in the policy pursued by the leaders of our country. 50 percent of the work related to gasification of Gomel region have been carried out over the past ten years. Starting from 1995, the pipelines installed have been carrying natural gas to the towns and urban-type settlements of Khoiniki, Narovlya, Uvarovichi, Bragin, Yelsk, Rechitsa, Vasilevichi, Kalinkovichi, Belitsk, Mozyr, Lelchitsy, Petrikov, Zhitkovichi, Turov, Loyev.

The President underscored: “We must develop district centres, small towns. We will be following this way in order to develop the republic evenly. Gasification is the main element here. “The blue fuel” is important to encourage people stay in small towns and villages. In two years we will complete gasification of district centres and nearly 80 percent of small towns,” said the Belarusian leader.