Power Industry

In 2009 work of the Government of the Republic of Karelia in the field of development of energy economy was focused on maintenance of energy equation; creation of new and modernization of operating generating capacities, including objects of small-scale power generation; development and implementation of the program of energy-saving technology development in real sector of economy and in budgetary sphere.

In 2009 the volume of consumption of electric energy has decreased in comparison with the level of 2008 by 10% due to reduction of volumes of the consumption, caused by the crisis phenomena in economy, consumption of electric energy by the population has increased by 2%.

The structure of consumption of electric energy remains quite stable in recent years. In total amount of realization of electric energy in 2009 the leading position belons to industrial consumers - 67%; population has 12%, agricultural commodity producers have 0.9%, other consumers - 20.1%.

The year 2008 was characterized by higher inflow to water basins and, as consequence, increase in working capacity of power stations; therefore, generation of electric energy on hydroelectric power stations was higher in comparison with 2009.

With a view of maintenance of reliability, security and efficiency of electrosupply the following projects were implemented in territory of the republic in 2009:

• there continued construction of the second 330-kilovolt through line, the 330-kilovolt substation of Louhi was commissioned. This power transmission line after its commissioning will allow to raise reliability of electrosupply of consumers of the republic and to increase electric power flow having thus lowered electric power lack in the republic
• works within the project of external electrosupply of the island of Valaam are completed, on December 18, 2009 the object was commissioned. Thanks to implementation of this project consumers of the island of Valaam have an opportunity to receive more economical electric energy
• realization of the Agreement concluded between the Government of the Republic of Karelia and Nord Hydro Joint-Stock Company concerning construction and reconstruction of objects of generation located in territory of the republic proceeds. Commissioning of the object of Läskelämini hydroelectric power plant is scheduled for August, 2010
• in 2009 it has been commissioned 53 objects, there have been commissioned 57.2 km of transmission facilities, transformer power is 3720 kilovolt-ampere

The Government of Karelia together with the branch of the Federal Grid Company of the Unified Energy System of Russia, Inc., Karelian Grid Company, branch of Karelenergo Inter-Regional High-Voltage Distribution Grid Company of the North-West , Inc., have started formation of the long-term program of development of electronetwork complex of the republic for the period of 2010-2015. According to the assignment of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, on results of the enlarged session of the Presidium of the State Council held on July 2, 2009 in Arkhangelsk, there has been developed and approved the Concept of long-term target program on reduction of power costs in budgetary sector of the Republic of Karelia. In order to implement substantive provisions of the Federal law N261-FZ Concerning energy saving, increase of power efficiency and amending some legislative acts of the Russian Federation as of November 23, 2009:

• work is carried out to make the Regional program of energy saving for the period till 2015 correspond to requirements of the above mentioned law
• together with the Department of the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Atomic Supervision for the Republic of Karelia work of energy auditing organizations functioning in the Republic of Karelia in the sphere of power inspection of the enterprises has been organized
• methodical and consulting support of administrations of local self-governments on development of municipal programs of energy saving is carried out
• the list of the basic energy-saving activities to be accomplished by small and medium business enterprises operating in real sector of economy has been developed
• together with PetrSU work on organization of extension courses on the basis of the university for technical workers in the field of energy saving and power audit, as well as negotiation of the opportunity of creation of self-regulating organization to provide performance of regulations of federal legislation in territory of the republic is conducted.