OREANDA-NEWS. On December 05, 2007 RAO "UES of Russia" has released a progress report on the implementation of its Investment Programme in November 2007, reported the press-centre of RAO "UES of Russia".

On 9 November, WGC-2 launched the construction of two 660 MW coal-fired power units at the Troitskaya TPP. The project will significantly improve the reliability of the energy system in the Chelyabinsk region and the entire energy system of the Urals area. The new units will be commissioned in 2011 and 2012.

On 10 November, Southern Generation Company TGC-8 started the construction of a new 410 MW combined-cycle generation unit at the Astrakhanskaya CHPP. As a result of the project, the plant's aggregate installed capacity will grow to 785 MW. SGC TGC-8 will spend over RUB12 billion on the project, which will be completed by December 2010. The company also starts modernization of the Astrakhanskaya TPP involving the construction of a new 410 MW combined-cycle gas turbine. The project provides for the replacement of four steam turbines that have reached the end of their useful life with combined-cycle gas turbines, and the modernization of the existing steam boilers in order to meet the peak loads in the heating system.

On 22 November, Mosenergo brought on line a new power unit at the CHPP-27. Its aggregate installed generation capacity is 450 MW of electricity and 300 Gcal/h of heat. The power unit will use combined-cycle technology, which is the first and the most powerful combined-cycle gas turbine in the Moscow Region. The power unit was built within 22 months, an unprecedented short period for such kind of facility. The launch of the new unit will help improve the reliability of power supply to the Moscow Region this winter.

Also on 23 November, SGC TGC-8 started the construction of a new 410 MW combined-cycle generation unit at the Krasnodarskaya CHPP. After PGU-410 is put into operation in December 2010, the installed capacity of the power plant will increase to 1058 MW.

On 28 November, TGC-4 brought on line the gas turbine power plant at site of the Belgorodskaya CHPP. The rated capacity of the new power plant is 66 MW, the peak capacity is 69 MW, which is 2.2 times the previous capacity. The launch of the plant improved reliability of the electricity and heat supply to Belgorod's consumers.

In November, Federal Grid Company carried out a significant amount of modernization work on several transmission grid facilities. 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 four autotransformers 150 MVA each with voltages of 330/110/10 kV. The major overhaul of the substation was undertaken without interrupting power supply to customers.

On 23 November, the Southern Trunk Grids of FGC completed the overhaul of the 330 kV transmission line between Tikhoretsk and Kropotkin in the Krasnodar Kray. The project implemented will ensure reliable transit of electricity from the Volgodonskaya NPP to the eastern part of the Krasnodar Kray, including its large industrial center Kropotkin.

Also in November, the company started projects to modernize five 220 kV and two 330 kV substations.

In addition, the distribution companies of RAO "UES of Russia" brought on line 15 modernized substations with voltages up to 110 kV and 170 km of distribution lines.