OREANDA-NEWS. February 26, 2008. Territorial Generation Company #1 (TGC-1) and Fortum have signed an agreement for the sale of the greenhouse gas emission reduction units (ERUs) generated as a result of the joint implementation (JI) projects carried out by TGC-1, reported the press-centre of RAO "UES of Russia".

Under the Agreement, Fortum will purchase from TGC-1 about 5 million metric tons of ERUs. Based on the current market prices for certified emission reduction units (CERs) in the developed countries, the transaction amount is estimated at about ?70 million.

TGC-1's JI projects include modernization of the hydropower plants in the Leningrad Region, expansion and modernization of several CHPPs in Saint Petersburg, and projects to improve energy conservation in the heating networks.

The ERU purchase agreement is based on the MoU on implementing the Kyoto mechanisms in Russia signed by Fortum and RAO "UES of Russia" in 2006. It is the largest transaction of the kind made in Russia.

The ERUs purchased by Fortum will cover almost half of its annual emissions of CO2. TGC-1 will use the proceeds from the deal to finance its investment programme.

* The Kyoto Protocol is an international environmental treaty which obliges the industrially developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in 2008-2012 by 5.2% compared to the level of 1990.