On May 14, the National Library of Belarus hosted the International Scientific and Technical Conference "Water. Gas. Heat. 2026». The purpose of the conference is to combine scientific views and production experience for the innovative development of water, utilities and water transport in accordance with the state policy of innovative development.
In the first half of the day, the grand opening and the plenary session No. 1 (scientific and innovative direction) took place. The Vice-rector for Scientific Work of the BNTU, Ksenia Yakushenko, delivered a welcoming speech at the event.
— This year, which we have declared the Year of the Belarusian Woman, restoration decrees were published and published concerning the further socio-technical development of our state for the next five years. These documents provide for a set of measures aimed at creating and maintaining a convenient, safe, modern, organized environment for our society. BNTU fully supports these initiatives and documents, and in accordance with this, we are pleased to hold this conference annually in order to integrate our scientific views, industrial experience, and priority areas for the development of the sectoral national economy, science, and education, ensuring the implementation of state policy and national development. Our event is also particularly important in connection with the approved Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus "On the National Strategy for the Development of the Closed-loop Economy (Circular Economy) of the Republic of Belarus for the period up to 2035". It is aimed at providing professional training of personnel, taking into account industry specifics. And in this conference, it would be very important for us to hear the opinion of our practitioners, manufacturers, how we should train students, magistrates, postgraduates, what topics and problems you put before the university, scientific developments that could give development to the educational field.
Andrei Romashko, Deputy Minister of Housing and Communal Services of the Republic of Belarus, also spoke at the opening ceremony of the conference. In his speech, he highlighted the urgent challenges facing the industry.
— I would like to note that from the point of view of scientific value, today it is not the amount of new knowledge produced that comes to the fore, but the impact of scientific research. The introduction of the latest modern technologies should increase the economic efficiency of the enterprise and improve the quality of services provided. A key feature of the current time is the systemic reorientation of innovative development towards the introduction of domestic developments. We must focus on technological re-equipment and modernization of enterprises based on innovative technologies. Today's event is characterized by a rich collective and authoritative composition of participants, which will allow for a comprehensive discussion of a wide range of topical issues and develop new approaches to the use of innovative technologies.
In his speech, Artyom Medvedok, Head of the Department for Strategic Development and External Investment Cooperation of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Belarus, emphasized the role of BNTU as a platform for dialogue between science, business and government.
— Energy, utilities, and resource movement are the foundations on which the sustainable development of the economy is based today. These topics are more relevant than ever. The head of state has repeatedly spoken about them. Today, BNTU is the country's leading technical university, which has been a reliable platform for open dialogue between science, business, and government for many years. Our ministry cooperates very closely with the BNTU. It is not the first year that we have been implementing a roadmap in a number of areas. BNTU students constantly come to practice in our organizations, and over time they grow up to become specialists and industry leaders.
Evgeny Panteleev, Head of the Department of Operation and Repair of Power Plants and Heating Networks at Belenergo, Ilkhum Rakhmatov, Professor of the Department of Heliophysics and Renewable Energy Sources at Bukhara State University, Alexander Volkov, Head of the Department of Hydromechanics and Hydraulic Machines at the National Research University of MEI, and Alexander Volkov, Head of the Department of Hydraulic Structures, Structures and Hydraulics, also spoke at the opening ceremony. Konstantin Morgunov, Admiral S.O. Makarov State University of the Marine and River Fleet.
The participants discussed a wide range of topics: digitalization of water supply and sanitation processes, the use of new structural materials with specified properties, prospects for using renewable energy sources and improving the efficiency of pumping equipment. Special attention was paid to the experience of implementing large infrastructure projects, including the transfer of the city to underground water supply sources and the reconstruction of sewage treatment plants. The participants also presented approaches to de-icing and demanganing of water at water treatment facilities, as well as modern methods of waterproofing and reducing hydraulic resistance.
The key focus of the meeting was the discussion of the introduction of innovations in the real sector of the economy. They discussed digital assistants and mathematical modeling at water treatment facilities, the organization of competence centers for gas supply, as well as increasing the intensity of thermal conversion when using alternative fuels and industrial waste. The participants stressed the importance of training qualified personnel for the water, utilities and energy sectors, as well as the need for further integration of science, education and production.
In the afternoon, the plenary session No. 2 (practice-oriented direction) was held, where the participants moved from scientific concepts to specific production solutions. The focus was on the automation of low-power boilers using wood pellets, the use of underground gas control equipment, as well as the experience of in-line diagnostics at gas distribution facilities. Considerable attention was paid to the digital transformation of the industry: dispatching energy resources, the use of BIM technologies in the design of heating, ventilation and water supply systems, as well as the use of artificial intelligence in the gas industry.
Thus, the second half of the event showed how innovative developments and digital tools are already being implemented in the practice of operation, repair and design of water supply, gas supply and thermal power facilities.
Tomorrow, May 15, the participants of the event will be involved in the work of sections at the Center for technical hydromechanics and hydraulic machines. This will be followed by an introduction to the laboratories and departments of BNTU, a round table and a final discussion summarizing the results of the event.
We would like to thank representatives of ministries, leading organizations of energy, gas and water supply, and universities for their fruitful work.
