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Former Deputy Prime Minister Patupchyk appointed energy minister

 

Alyaksandr Lukashenka on April 22 appointed Uladzimir Patupchyk to the position of energy minister, reported the presidential press office, BelaPAN said.

The Belarusian leader also gave his consent to the appointment of Yawhen Voranaw as director general of Belenerha, Belarus’ national power supply utility.

The previous energy minister, Alyaksandr Azyarets, was dismissed by Mr. Lukashenka on April 18 “for failures in the management of the energy sector.”

Following a government meeting on the sector’s performance, Mr. Lukashenka also fired First Deputy Energy Minister Eduard Tawpyanets and Belenerha Director General Alyaksey Shyrma.

Born in Svyatlahorsk, Homyel region, on November 17, 1958, Mr. Patupchyk graduated from the Belarusian Polytechnic Institute and Russian Presidential Academy of Public Administration.

His career has included service as head of the Mazyr District Executive Committee, deputy head of the Homyel Regional Executive Committee, presidential aide/chief inspector for the city of Minsk (2004-2006), minister of labor and social security (2006-2009) and deputy prime minister (2009-2010).

On June 17, 2011, Mr. Lukashenka appointed Mr. Patupchyk member of the Council of the Republic (upper parliamentary house). On the following day, the Council unanimously elected Mr. Patupchyk deputy chairperson of the 64-seat house. Mr. Patupchyk lost his seat with the formation of the current Council of the Republic in the fall 2012.