Power generation in Russia dropped 2.1% to 185 billion kWh in January-February 2007, according to a report of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade on the socio-economic development of Russia in January-February 2007. The decline in power generation as compared with the same period a year earlier is due to abnormally high outdoor air temperature. Thermoelectric and nuclear power plants generated, respectively, 7.4 billion kWh /5.4 per cent/ and 1.1 billion kWh /3.9%/ less power in January-February 2007 than in January-February 2006, while hydroelectric power plants generated 4.6 billion kWh /18.4%/ more power. The significant increase in power generation by hydroelectric power plants as compared with the same period a year earlier is due to a favourable hydraulic situation on some rivers in European Russia and Siberia. Thus, in January-February 2007 the Volga-Kama system of hydroelectric power plants generated 3.1 billion kWh /67.4%/ more power than in January-February 2006, while the Angara-Yenisei system generated 0.9 billion kWh /6.6%/ more power. The share of power generated by hydroelectric power plants in the total power output grew from 13.1% in January-February 2006 to 15.9% in January-February 2007, while the share of power generated by hydroelectric and nuclear power plants reduced, respectively, from 71.8% to 69.3% and from 15.1% to 14.8%. Power consumption in January-February 2007 amounted to 183.5 billion kWh, which is 1.1% lower than in the same period of 2006. The balance of electricity imports and exports in January-February 2007 is estimated at 1.5 billion kWh, which is 48% lower than the level of last year. This is due to increased imports from Ukraine and decreased exports to the Republic of Belarus and Transcaucasia. |
