Russia's Energy Ministry discussing possibility of building PSPP, new 400 MW TPP in Primorye

VLADIVOSTOK. Sept 24 (Interfax) - Russia's Energy Ministry is considering the possibility of building a pumped storage power plant (PSPP) in the Nadezhdinsky District and a new thermal power plant (TPP) based at the Novoshakhtinskoye coal deposit with capacity of 400 MW in the Primorsk Territory, the ministry's press service said following a working meeting between Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev and Primorye Governor Oleg Kozhemyako.

Matters on developing the Primorsk Territory fuel and energy complex were discussed during the meeting, including constructing new generation facilities of various types to meet the region's growing needs.

A decision was particularly reached to continue operations to modernize and boost the capacity of existing power plants. There are plans to raise the capacity of the Primorye energy system from 2.7 GW to 3.5 GW.

Particular attention is planned to be paid to providing the power grid infrastructure for the project to create a year-round seaside resort in Primorye, which is being implemented as part of the Five Seas and Lake Baikal federal project.

Tsivilev also noted the prospects for using coal from Primorye deposits to operate local coal-fired power plants.

"Supplies of coal from nearby deposits will relieve the burden on the railway infrastructure and should have a positive economic effect owing to a shorter logistics leg," Tsivilev said in the statement.

The Energy Ministry earlier reported that the rate of energy consumption in the Far East is growing much faster than the Russian average at 3.9% versus 1.5% in other regions.

The Novoshakhtinskoye open-pit mine of Primorsk Ugol LLC, part of the SUEK integrated coal and energy company group, is developing the Pavlovskoye brown coal deposit in the Primorsk Territory.