OREANDA-NEWS. RAO "UES of Russia" has released a progress report on the implementation of its Investment Programme by RAO UES companies in October 2007.

On 30 October, OAO "WGC-2" launched the construction of two combined-cycle generating units with an aggregate capacity of 800 MW at the Stavropolskaya TPP. This is one of the priority investment projects of WGC-2 which will help significantly improve the reliability of operation of the South IES. The total amount of funds which will be spent on this project is RUB26 billion. Unit 9 and Unit 10 are to be launched in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

On 20 October, the last (sixth) 335 MW hydroelectric generating unit was brought on line at the Bureyskaya HPP. As a result, the Bureyskaya HPP has become the largest hydropower plant in Russia's Far East, with an installed capacity of 1,675 MW. Next year, the aggregate capacity of its first two hydroelectric generating units is expected to be increased by 300 MW. During the autumn-winter peak load period (October 2007-March 2008), the station is to generate 1.7 billion kWh of electricity.

On 16 October, two mobile gas turbine power units with a combined capacity of 45 MW were put into operation at the 110 kV Pushkino Substation. This is the third mobile gas turbine power plant to have been deployed in the Moscow Region under the RAO UES Investment Programme and the Agreement entered into between RAO "UES of Russia" and the Moscow Region Government on 20 November 2006. The aggregate capacity of the existing mobile power stations has now reached 135 MW. It is planned that a total of 10 mobile GTPPs having a combined capacity of 225 MW will be deployed in the Moscow Region.

The investment programme of OAO "FGC of UES" is being implemented in accordance with the schedule. On 31 October, the Central Trunk Grids branch of FGC completed the modernization of and brought on line the 330 kV Kalininskaya substation with 600 MVA of transformer capacity. It has become the most modern power grid facility in the Tverskaya Region. The modernized substation has significantly improved the reliability of power supply in the region and made it possible to expand the substation and connect new users.

On 22 October, the Southern Trunk Grids branch of FGC launched construction of the 220 kV Poselkovaya substation near Sochi. The substation will ensure reliable electricity supply to the Olympic facilities.

On 18 October, the East Trunk Grids branch of FGC completed construction of a 500 kV Dalnevostochnaya substation. This helped increase the network throughput capacity and stability of transmission lines and reduce loss of the substation's active power. This helped improve the reliability of power supply in the south of the Primorsky Kray.

In October, specialists of FGC branches launched modernization of eleven 220-330 kV substations and three 500 kV transmission lines. Last month, the RAO UES distribution grid companies launched the project to modernize seven 110 kV substations and completed repair and recovery works and brought five substations on line. In October, the Company put into operation about 70 km of transmission lines of 0.4 kV to 110 kV.