Wedoany.com Report-Feb 8, The System Operator has proposed considering imports of electricity from China, constructing a 250 MW rapidly deployable gas turbine unit (GTU) and developing renewable energy sources as near-term measures to address the energy deficit in the Russian Far East.

"In the context of a strained operational and balance situation in the Unified Energy System of the East, it is necessary to consider the accelerated commissioning of renewable energy generation facilities, which represent a cheap, efficient and rapidly deployable source of electricity, as well as importing electricity from China," the System Operator quoted its board chairman, Fyodor Opadchy, as saying.

An effective measure could also be placing 10 rapidly deployable GTUs with a unit capacity of 25 MW in Primorye Territory, Opadchy said.

Currently, preparations are underway for competitively selecting power generation projects, and in turn coordinated proposals for specific construction projects are required from generating companies and regional authorities, the System Operator said.

In December 2024, the government commission on energy development considered the issue of developing the Far East's energy system. The Energy Ministry was tasked with exploring options for new generation sites, including up to 445 MW in Khabarovsk or Primorye Territory, up to 233 MW in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), up to 65.8 MW in the Chukotka Autonomous District and up to 179 MW and 31 MW in the Sakhalin region and Kamchatka Territory, respectively, as well as rapidly deployable generation facilities.

The possibility of constructing solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of approximately 1,700 MW is also being considered.

As of January 1, 2025, the Far East has joined the second pricing zone of the electricity market (previously covering Siberia), which will allow competitive selections of construction and modernization projects for power capacities in the region, with payments partly covered by the electricity market.

System Operator Proposes Electricity Imports From China, Constructing 250 MW Gas Turbine Unit to Cover Russian Far East’s Energy Deficit