Krasnoyarsk Terr admin approves Lower Kureika HPS project.

KRASNOYARSK, June 30 (Itar-Tass) - A project to build a
Nizhne-Kureiskaya (Lower Kureika) hydropower station (HPS) in the subpolar
area with an installed capacity of 150 megawatts has been approved by the
Krasnoyarsk Territory administration.
Denis Pashkov, Territorial Minister of Industry and Energy, told
Itar-Tass on Thursday that the new HPS will perform the functions of
counterregulator for the currently operating Kureika HPS and supply cheap
electric power to the Turukhansk District, the enterprises of the Norilsk
Nickel state mining company, gas and oil fields in the Territory's north.
It is expected that the new HPS will be put into operation in 2017. An
approximate cost of its construction is estimated at 28,000 million
roubles. The RusHydro Company's own resources are the main source of
financing.
Pashkov said the project is significant for both the Turukhansk
District and the entire Krasnoyarsk Territoy. "At present, electric power
for the District is generated by diesel power stations, with the cost of
one kilowatt-hour being 30 roubles.
The Territorial budget subsidizes the Turukhansk District with about
500 million roubles every year to make up for the shortfall of part of the
electric power tariff," Pashkov pointed out.
After the new HPS comes into operation, the tariff will diminish by
half and the load on the Territorial budget will be eased, resultant also
of a reduction in the need to deliver supplies to northern areas. Tax
revenue to budgets at all levels will amount to 2,700 million roubles by
2017, and 6,400 million roubles by 2022.
In September 2010, at public hearings, the population of Turukhansk
District approved a project to build a Lower Kureika HPS. It was pointed
out in the minutes of the hearings that the HPS would have a minimal
impact on the environment would flood a small area of land lacking
populated sites.
A project to build an HPS in the lower reaches of the Kureika River
was drawn up way back in 1989. Preparatory work for construction was
started in 1991 but was discontinued two years later. In 2007 the project
was updated. On December 14, 2010, the project was given a positive
appraisal by the Glavgosexpertiza (chief administration on expert
examination) of Russia.