|
29 November 2010
 Within the preparation for the Moscow International Energy Forum «Russian Fuel and Energy Complex in the XXI Century» (MIEF-2011), the video conference «Energy Safety of Megalopolises» took place. The space bridge connected Moscow and Saint-Petersburg via the studio of the RIA NOVOSTI Information Agency. Power engineers, experts and journalists discussed the issues concerning improvement of the power supply stability in megalopolises.
The on-line conference was participated by: Mikhail Balabanov, the First Deputy Head of the Moscow Fuel-and-Energy Sector Department; Sergey Chekina, the Press Secretary of the Moscow Fuel-and-Energy Sector Department; Svetlana Melnikova, the Deputy Chairman of the Energy and Engineering-Supply Committee of the Saint-Petersburg Government; Igor Kuzmin, the Head of the Networks Management Center of Lenenergo JSC.
The moderator of the space bridge was the MIEF Principal Analyst Alexander Epishov.
Today, the global energy safety is being constantly discussed on numerous discussion platforms where power engineers meet. One of such platforms is within the Moscow International Energy Forum «Russian Fuel and Energy Complex in the XXI Century» to be held in Moscow, in 2011, for the ninth time.
The participants of the on-line conference in both capitals agreed to «come back to earth» and discuss the energy safety theme in the social light. Ordinary people want to know, first of all, what is the degree of their protection from the system risks, what causes blackouts, and what measures are taken for their prevention.
According to Mikhail Balabanov, the energy safety issues are given special priority by the Moscow Government. The program of the megalopolis energy complex development is governed by the City Law «On the Energy Strategy and Safety of Moscow». The law defines the development parameters for the electric networks sector, generating supplies, construction of additional power lines, and high-voltage supplying centers, up to 2012. The law has afforded ground for energy companies including such works to their investment programs.
The crisis delayed the enforcement of the law by two years; still, the situation in the Moscow electric networks sector has already notably improved. Today, according to M. Balabanov, the Moscow power engineers are more confident in this sphere.
FGC UEC has reconstructed a high-voltage supplying center of 330–500 kV in Moscow; Moscow United Energy Company JSC has put into operation 9 high-voltage supplying centers of 110–220 kV. In total, about 15 high-voltage supplying centers in the capital provide the network with the voltage of 20 kV; now, power engineers are working on conveying this network voltage to the consumer.
The energy supply services of both Moscow and Saint Petersburg operate perfectly developed automatic load transfer systems. In Moscow, there are 22,000 houses attributed to the second energy supply category and simultaneously connected to two independent power sources.
In the Saint-Petersburg studio of RIA NOVOSTI, the discussers talked, among other things, about the so-called Power Ring to be closed around Saint-Petersburg in November 2012. As projected, in 2011, there will be 7 substations, elements of the Power Ring, started up.
The program of the Saint-Petersburg Electric Networks Sector modernization has been implemented since 2004; none of the Russian regions has such a program yet.
The completion of the Power Ring construction is to secure the city, provide its reliable energy supply and prevent power failures.
According to Svetlana Melnikova, the systemic modernization of the Saint Petersburg power system requires amendments to the federal legislation – in the part concerning acquisition of an approval for construction of so-called linear objects, such as electric networks and heating pipelines.
Today, the length of the sanctioning procedures for construction of such objects equals to the time required for construction of buildings. As a result, the estimated cost of the electric networks and pipelines increases and connection price rises; in aggregate, it affects the end consumer.
Finalizing the live conversation, Alexander Epishov reminded those present that within MIEF-2011 the conference called «Smart Electric Networks: World Experience and Prospects of Russia» would be held. The conference will deal with the electric networks of new generation.
Please find the full version of the space bridge «Energy Safety of Megalopolises» at the RIA NOVOSTI web-site:
http://rian.ru/press_video/20101125/300774018.html
Translated from Russian into English by Literra translation bureau
|
|
