The Kremlin Activates Coal

The Russian presidential administration has developed fuel strategy for Russian electricity. Kommersant has learned that it will not emphasize growing gas supplies, of which, experts say, there is already a 30-percent deficit, but coal. Thus, Russian authorities will convert domestic consumers to coal and heating oil, which will unavoidably lead to higher electricity prices, but guarantee that Gazprom meets its export plans.

Head of the presidential executive administration Sergey Sobyanin held a meeting yesterday devoted to the fuel balance in Russian electricity for the coming years. A Kommersant source said that it was the first of several meetings relating to that topic planned for the next several months with the goal of creating an energy strategy through 2015. Minister of Industry and Energy Viktor Khristenko, RAO UES of Russia head Anatoly Chubais, Federal Tariff Service chairman Sergey Novikov and Gazprom management board member and Mezhregiongaz general Director Kirill Seleznev were present at the meeting. The discussed fuel for the next heating season and the coming years and, in particular, compensating for the shortage of natural gas on the domestic market.
Kommersant