Republic of Belarus is located within the western part of the Precambrian East European Platform. In geologic respect it represents a junction of crustal blocks of different age and origin. The crystalline basement within the whole territory of the country is covered by sediments of variable thickness. In result of recent investigations a contrast pattern of the terrestrial temperature field was revealed within the sedimentary cover of the counntry. Heat flow density distribution in the whole region varies in the wide range from 20 to 70-80 mW/m2 and it increases up to 100-120 mW/m2 within salt domes, widely developed within the Pripyat Trough (PT). 

The platform cover within the trough and the Podlaska-Brest Depression (PBD) is the most warmed up.  Temperature reaches up to 100-115 C within the PT at the depth of 4-4.5 km and up to 40-42 C within the PBD. The Orsha Depression is the third deep sedimentary basin within the considered area. Temperature at the crystalline basement here doesn't exceed 30-35 C at the depth of 1.5-1.7 km.  The Belarussian anteclise (BA) is a vast positive structure with a thickness of sediments up to 500 m with observed lower temperature values (10-20  C).

Estimates of geothermal resources available in the platform cover of Belarus were based on the approach used in the the Atlas of Geothermal Resources in Europe. Results show that resources of geothermal energy existing within sediments are varying in a wide range from first dozens of kg.o.e./m2 within the Belarussian anteclise  to 300 – 350 kg.o.e./m2 within the PBD. The highest values for the Orsha Depression reach approximately 100 kg.o.e./m2. 

The so-called Intersalt sediments, the thickness of the Upper Salt, Devonian deposits, overluing the Upper Salt, and the Jurassic accumulations, comprising the geologic crossection within the PT, were considered as geothermal horizons . Calculations show that the density of geothermal resources within the Intersalt Complex range from 0.1 to 1.75 t.o.e./m2.  Maximal values correspond to the north-eastern part of the PT. In the southern part of the unit they are lower (0.25-0.65 t.o.e./m2). 

Within the Jurassic and the Devonian deposits, overlying the Upper Salt, the desity of geothermal resources usually correspond to a few dozens of kg.o.e./m2.  Within the impermeable Upper Salt Complex they are much higher and reach in some blocks of the PT up to 2-4 t.o.e./m2. Their utilization is possible by means of borehole heat exchangers. 

There are already 8 small geothermal installations under exploitation in the country. They use heat pumps with the total installed heat capacity of them around 1.5 MWt.  Works were undertaken to construct the first in Belarus geothermal station for the greenhouse complex “Berestye” in the Brest town. Here the Republican Unitary Enterprise “Belgeologiya” recently finished to drill and test a borehole to recover warm water. Its bottomhole is at the depth of 1.5 km.

Dozens of deep holes, drilled in the process of oil prospecting works outside oil fields, are available within the PT. It is possible to use them as a basis to create geothermal installations for heating of dwelling, as well as to satisfy demands of agricultural and industrial users. Terrestrial heat is a perspective renewable and ecologically clean resource of energy in Belarus. Its utilization represents an important national goal for the economics of the country.

Vilnius, Lithuania