Nikolay Reshetov, Head of Chief Department for State Tariff Regulation

— The construction of new units of Novovoronezh NPP will ensure energy security of the region

147bln RUR will be invested in the energy sector of the Voronezh region in the coming decade, the head of the Chief Department for State Regulation of Tariffs of the Voronezh region Nikolay Reshetov said during a press-conference on Dec 19. A REGNUM correspondent reports Reshetov to say that of this sum 30bln RUR will be spent on the development of electric networks within 10 years, 7bln RUR on thermal power engineering till 2015 and 110bln RUR on nuclear power engineering till 2013.

The key project in the nuclear power sector is the construction of two 2,000 MW units (6th and 7th) at Novovoronezh NPP. The construction will start in 2007, the 6th unit will be launched in 2012, the 7th one in 2013. All 110bln RUR will be allocated from the federal budget. On Dec 20 the program will be considered at Rosatom.
 
Reshetov noted that the construction of the new units will ensure the energy security of the region, which is especially crucial now that there is general electricity shortfall in Russia. The new units will serve for 50 years and will become an additional source of electricity supply for the region. Today, Novovoronezh NPP has 3 operative units — the service period of 2 of them has been prolonged.