OREANDA-NEWS. According to the Integrated Energy Systems - a private closed joint stock company established in December 2002 for the purpose of implementing strategic investment projects in the Russian electric utility industry - press service, with reference to General Director of OJSC TGC-5 (first private territorial generation company) Eduard Smelov, the process of preparation for the autumn-winter season is in full swing. Mr Smelov said that according to the plan the equipment at the stations of TGC-5 has been prepared, and sufficient fuel stock has been formed for the period of maximum loading during the winter of 2007-2008. The main power equipment of TGC-5 is being repaired according to the schedule. For the 9 months of 2007 TGC-5 allocated over 730 mln roubles to that effect, which enabled the repair of 82 main equipment units, including 38 power boilers, 33 turbines and 12 water-heating boilers.

As part of capital repairs, 9.7 km of heating networks have been re-laid, and the works on 3 more km are under way. Fuel stock formation at TGC-5 is conducted ahead of plan targets set by RAO UES of Russia. Hard coal stock at the stations of TGC-5 branches has reached 379 thousand tons. Fuel oil stock is also formed in compliance with the schedule. Contracts with regional natural gas suppliers for 2008 have been signed in all regions.

Besides, as part of the preparation for the autumn-winter season, emergency drills are organised at all TGC-5 stations in order to train the staff to act in low-temperature conditions. At present, TGC-5 commissions conduct the audit as regards the readiness of the stations and heating networks for maximum loads during the winter. "Timely preparation of the company's stations for the winter season proves the ability of a private investor to exercise successful management in the power industry," said Mr Smelov.

Integrated Energy Systems (IES) is actively involved in the privatization of the Russian electric utility industry and intends by 2007-2008 to complete a consolidation of its assets and the formation of a major interregional power utility with a presence in all sectors of the Russian electric utility industry, i.e. generation, distribution, transmission, marketing, service and power engineering.