OREANDA-NEWS. August 14, 2008. General Director of IDGC of the North-West Alexander Kuhmay stays in the Murmansk region with a three-day business visit. The program of the visit of the Head of the Interregional Distribution Grid Company includes meetings with authorities, management of "Kolenergo", visits to power facilities.

Today, the official meeting of General Director of IDGC of the North-West of Alexander Kuhmay and Governor of the Murmansk region Yury Evdokimov took place. The meeting lasted more than an hour. Deputy Head of Kolenergo Sergey Gubich and Chief Engineer of the branch of IDGC of the North-West Alexander Maslov also took part in the meeting.
Yury Evdokimov started the business meeting with head of the operational company with the question "What troubles powermen?"

Alexander Kuhmay stated to the Governor the problems which are connected with start-up of power facilities in the Varzuga ancient sea village which had faced problems with reliable electric power supply for many years. In connection with absence of means to solve the problem, the construction of new power facilities in this area till some times was not possible.

"It is a social project, the lead of which two years ago was taken by IDGC of the North-West and Kolenergo branch of the operational company," Alexander Kuhmay explained. "The source of financing is borrowed funds of RUR 300 million".

For today, all works are completed, and powermen are ready to provide Varzuga with reliable electric power supply. "But due to the problems connected with registration of the land, we cannot perform this; We need support of the regional administration," Alexander Kuhmay told addressing the Governor. Besides, only a part of means is included in the tariff for transfer of the electric power which was directed to new construction in Varzuga.

During negotiations, heads discussed an opportunity of inclusion of Kolenergo expenses on realization of Varzuga investment project in the tariff of 2009.

According to Alexander Kuhmay in his speech to journalists of regional mass-media at a briefing which took place right after the meeting with the Governor of Murmansk region, he also discussed with the Head of the region a course of realization of the Agreement signed between the RAO UES of Russia and the Murmansk region on realization of the program of development of the power complex of the Kola Peninsula.

The Heads gave special attention to the capital of the Kola Peninsula - Murmansk - and adjoining areas which, while dynamically developing, already start to experience deficiency of the electric power. This is, first of all, the central district of the capital of Zapolyarie.
Construction of Severnaya new substation of 150 kV in Murmansk will help to solve this problem, according to A. Kuhmay. "Together with Kolenergo, we are now actively engaged in this object of the investment program", he told.
 
The Heads in detail discussed prospects of development of networks on the Western coast of the Kola Bay where in conformity with a long-term plan a complex development of Murmansk transport unit, infrastructures and port complex is planned.

Shortly summarizing the results of the negotiations with the Governor of Murmansk region, Alexander Kuhmay especially emphasized, "Solving any issues connected with development of the power complex of Zapolyarie, we pursue the policy of the system approach in solving the tasks set forth for the powermen".

"We found full mutual understanding on main issues of the grid complex development of the Kola Peninsula with the Governor of the Murmansk region. We count on constructive cooperation with the authorities; we agreed with the governor about necessity of carrying out regular business meetings on power issues," he concluded.