Co-operation with countries beyond Russia’s immediate neighbours. A significant role in international activity was accorded to participation by RAO UES of Russia in the work of non-governmental international organisations such as the World Economic Forum, the World Energy Council, the International Conference on Large-Scale Super-High Tension Electrical Systems, the International Commission for Large Dams and others.
In
accordance with RAO UES of Russia’s plans for developing international co-operation in
1999, 25 bilateral protocols, memoranda and agreements were drawn up and signed with the
collaboration and agreement of foreign partners, covering co-operation in the field of
power engineering with power companies and firms in Germany, Italy, Poland, France, China,
Japan and other countries.
The development of bilateral co-operation with partners from relatively distant countries has been pursued within the framework of meetings and negotiations with regard to the implementation of RAO UES of Russia’s programme of action for expanding exports of electricity from the Unified Energy System of Russia and for attracting investment in the sector.
A preliminary feasibility study has been prepared for the construction of a direct current power transmission line, the «Russia-China Power Bridge,» and RAO UES of Russia has assessed its contents. A preliminary technical and economic feasibility study for the construction of the direct current power transmission line «Russia — Japan Power Bridge» is in the final stages of preparation.
Throughout the year, work continued in the Baltic Countries’ Committee for Co-operation (BALTREL). It was arranged for the management and specialists of RAO UES of Russia to take part in meetings of the Executive and Co-ordinating Committees of BALTREL, as well as in the organisation’s Working Groups. Five basic projects were identified, the development of which should create the necessary conditions for implementing well-considered measures leading to the integration of the Baltic region’s electricity market. In the year 2000, the work of the BALTREL committee will focus on the development of these projects with financial support from the European Community.
In 1999 a project was prepared together with the PBE —Bayernwerk — Verbund consortium and the Ukrainian company Ukrinterenergo for the transmission of Russian electricity to Central and Western Europe via direct current insertions. A Contract has been drawn up for the creation of an international joint company for the construction of a VPT and the development of trading in electricity.
Developing co-operation with countries of the CIS and the Baltic. Agreement has been reached in principle between RAO UES of Russia and the Ministry of Fuel and Energy of Georgia for the development of an organisational structure for the joint export of electricity to Turkey, and participation by RAO UES of Russia in a project for the construction of an electric power transmission line linking the power systems of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.
In 1999, the organisation and development of co-operation with countries of the CIS and the Baltic was primarily implemented, as in previous years, by means of intergovernmental agreements.
Developments in co-operation between Russian and Kazakhstan included measures for creating a joint coal and power company to manage the Severny open-cast mine, the Ekibastuz Fossil Fuel Power Station 2 and the 500 kV overhead power transmission line from Ekibastuz to Omsk.
RAO UES of Russia has been involved in organising sessions of the Intergovernmental Commissions on Matters of Economic, Scientific and Technical Co-Operation between the Russian Federation and Kirgizia, Kazakhstan, Tadjikistan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Litva and Ukraine.
Draft proposals have been prepared and presented to higher instances for long-term Programmes of Economic Co-operation between RAO UES of Russia and Uzbekistan, Moldova, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Tadjikistan, Kirgizia and Ukraine. Long-term projects are under consideration for the creation of mixed power and industrial companies in Tadjikistan and Kirgizia with the participation of RAO UES of Russia.
An Intergovernmental Russo-Belorussian Agreement on unification of the power systems of the two countries was drawn up and signed in Moscow on 22.11.99. An agreement was signed in Tallinn on 26.05.99 for parallel operation of the power systems of Russia, Belarus, Latvia and Estonia. The fifteenth and sixteenth sessions of the Electric Power Engineering Council of the CIS were held on 5.02.99 in Moscow and in Yerevan on 10.06.99 respectively. A draft programme has been drawn up for bilateral Russo-Georgian co-operation during the period to 2005, including the question of electricity exports.
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