Stepan Kirichuk, member of the Federation Council from Tumen region, member of the FC Committee on Natural Monopolies

— Excess energy should be directed to Moscow and Moscow region

On Feb 27 the Federation Council Committee on Natural Monopolies considered the request of the governor of Kursk region for completing the construction of the 5th unit of Kursk NPP and decided to recommend the Government to finish the project by 2010. The Committee also recommended the Government to finance the construction of a high-voltage power transmission line for electricity supplies  to Moscow region.

I think that there are enough arguments in favor of the project. First, we have already spent much money and would spend even more if we decided to reverse the process.

But the key point is that the new management system and the security systems launched at the 1st and 2nd units and to be launched at the 5th unit are up-to-date, high-tech systems, i.e. the plant is strongly protected. That’s why we readily support this project.

You are asking what we will do with the energy the unit will produce? Today, there can be no excess energy in Russia – we simply have to effectively distribute it. We recommend sending it to Moscow and Moscow region – territories that really need energy.