Hydropower strategic tool of implementing state policy - Russian Security Council

MOSCOW. June 29 I(Interfax) - Hydropower is a strategic tool of ensuring Russia's territorial integrity and economic security, the press service for the Russian Security Council said in a statement on Monday.

"In aggregate, hydropower acts not only as a grid element but also as a strategic tool of implementing the state policy aimed at ensuring the country's sustainable development, territorial integrity and economic security," the statement, released after a meeting on the construction of hydropower and state district power plants in the Siberian Federal District, said.

Hydropower plant construction projects give impetus to regional development and encourage the development of shipping, river transport, tourism and recreational infrastructure, the statement said. "Hydropower plant water storage facilities create a strategic reserve of fresh water, accounting for 30% of industrial and agricultural water supply," it said.

The meeting concluded with the government being instructed to approve regulations that would determine investors and operating conditions of a mechanism for attracting investment in building hydropower plants, the statement said.

"Russia's Industry and Trade Ministry, Energy Ministry and Economic Development Ministry have been instructed to submit their proposals on providing new hydropower-generating facilities with necessary equipment, taking into account the construction deadlines, requisite capacity and specifics of the design documentation," the statement said.

The meeting, held earlier on Monday, was chaired by Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu and attended by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, presidential plenipotentiary representative to the Siberian Federal District Anatoly Seryshev, high-ranking regional officials and government representatives.