OREANDA-NEWS. November 13, 2009. Moscow hosted a press-conference “Realization of investment program in energy sector” with participation of general directors of “TGK-14” S.I. Vasilchuk and “Engineering Center UES” S.I. Seu.

In the course of the press-conference the heads of companies analyzed the modern status of energy industry from two mutually complementing positions- from the view point of generation and engineering. They touched upon sensitive problems that affect the state of things in the industry – drop in demand and production of power, imperfection of regulatory base, state participation in the development of the industry and many other issues.

Special attention was paid to the General scheme updates. S.I Seu is sure that “general scheme that is currently under revision in RF Minenergo, must be updated with due regard not only to the current situation in the energy industry but also to the generic transformation that must take place in the industry in the short run. What I mean is capacity market startup which will entail responsibility enhancement and transparency of investment liability for power generating companies, reconsideration of the industry strategy with the aim of boosting reliability (rise of maintenance and repair expenditure, re-equipping and upgrading of technologies), updating of energy parameters in view of prospective growth of the Russian economy”.

In the light of persisting tendency to shift the dates for OGK and TGK projects implementation and revise the contents of investment programs, “TGK-14” is the only generating company that increases its investment liability.

In August this year, special committee of Minenergo of Russia headed by Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Sergey Shmatko, visited several facilities of ОАО “TGK-14” located on the territory of Republic of Buryatia. According to assessment by Minister of Energy of the RF, the sites of “TGK-14” are in extremely unsatisfactory state and require urgent steps for their upgrade. According to S.I. Vasilchuk “in order to recover from the technical lockout and ensure standard reliability of power supply to consumers in Zabaikalsky Krai and Republic of Buryatia “TGK-14” will need to implement the long-term investment program worth more than 19,2 billion rubles”.

“TGK-14” and “Engineering Center UES” whose current cooperation is based on technical re-equipment of CHPP-1 in Ulan-Ude that was damaged in an accident in February 2008 also presented a detailed in-progress report about the project.

It will be reminded that due to severe depreciation of plant equipment, in February 2008 there was a serious breakdown at Ulan-Udenskaya CHPP-1 which resulted in damage of two turbines (unit ##6-7), total capacity of 100 MW.

Rehabilitation of unit 7 project became the basic element of stage two investment program of “TGK-14”. “Engineering Center UES” is engaged in the project as the general contractor; according to technical re-equipment program for Ulan-Udenskaya CHPP-1, the company is to implement the replacement of turbo unit #7. In 2009 the turbo unit design work began (general designer is branch of JSC “Engineering Center UES” - “Nizhegorodsky Teploelectroproject”). Another branch of JSC “Engineering Center UES” – “Firm ORGRES” – is entrusted with startup and adjustment. It is planned to commission the turbo unit #7 by the end of the year 2010.