Putin proposes assessing expansion of coal generation in Far East, building hydropower plants

VLADIVOSTOK. Sept 4 (Interfax) - Coal generation in the Far East could be expanded, with Russian President Vladimir Putin suggesting that this be assessed at a meeting on the development of the region's fuel and energy complex.

"The region has significant coal reserves. In this regard, I believe it would be appropriate to assess the opportunities for expanding coal generation in the Far East where, of course, this is economically justified and feasible," he said.

"According to various estimates, the region has enough coal for hundreds of years - up to 900 years. Such significant reserves that it is worth considering how to use them," Putin said.

In addition, he also said the region's hydropower potential was being "clearly underutilized." "We need to look at projects to build large hydropower facilities and providing sources to finance them," Putin said.

A generating capacity shortage is predicted in the Far East in the coming years. The draft scheme and program for the development of energy systems for the period 2026-2031 says that in addition to the construction of generating capacity - recently, two tenders for projects in Primorye and Khabarovsk territory failed, with new ones yet to be announced - it concerns the construction of the 500 kV Khabarovsk - Komsomolsk power line and renovation of the 500 kV Komsomolsk substation. "The construction of this 500 kV power line is also needed to enable the Komsomolskaya CHPP-2 to be decommissioned," the draft scheme and program says.

In the event that at least 445 MW of guaranteed generating capacity is not built [in Primorye and Khabarovsk territory), then extending the service life of generating equipment at the Artemovsk CHP plant and Khabarovsk CHPP-2 beyond 2027 may help keep avert a deficit. However, judging by the document, even if the 445 MW is built, it will still be necessary to extend the service life of existing power plants until the first power unit of the Primorye nuclear power plant is commissioned in 2033.

Short-term measures include postponing the continuation of the modernization of Vladivostok CHPP-2 until after 2028, "continuing the operation of foreign-made generating equipment at the Vostochnaya CHPP and mini-CHPP on Russky Island," and "postponing the deadline for increasing consumption by the power receivers of large consumers until after the implementation of measures to build new generating facilities."

Also, a partial solution could be to extend the service life of the generating equipment of the Yakutskaya GRES and the Yakutskaya GRES Novaya thermal power plants.

The document states that if new generating capacity is not built, but the option of extending the service life of existing equipment is chosen, then "the amount of electricity produced by existing generation facilities will be less than that of new generation facilities (less than 6,500 hours per year), which will result in the need to limit export of electricity until the year the first power unit of the Primorye NPP (1000 MW in 2033) is commissioned."