Mikhail Khardikov: “It is necessary to develop not only the Far East, but also the path to it”

Within the framework of the EEF, the head of the energy business of En + Group spoke about the prospects for the development of energy in the territory of the Far Eastern Federal District

Energy is something without which the modern world is impossible. However, while striving to increase production, it is important not to forget about the need to maintain the natural balance. Current trends offer a symbiosis of energy and ecology, aimed at the benefit of nature conservation, on the one hand, and the production of sufficient energy, on the other. A striking example of this are hydroelectric power plants, as well as stations using wind and solar energy. How it works in practice was discussed at the 7th Eastern Economic Forum during the discussion “Efficient Energy – Balance of Economy and Ecology”.

Among the invited experts, Mikhail Khardikov, head of the En+ Group energy business, voiced his point of view. He spoke about the pros and cons of modern energy and about the tasks that the company sets for itself. After the end of the session, Mikhail Yurievich agreed to answer a few questions. First of all, they talked about the projects of the Far East region, which are being implemented by the company.

“The pool of our projects in the Far East is being actively formed,” Mikhail Yuryevich answered. – We started with the social sphere. We are completing the construction of two hotels in Vladivostok, known as Hyatts. Today, one of them is already operating in test mode, and will be fully operational within the next few months.

An interesting project – the development of a coal deposit – is being implemented by a company in Transbaikalia.

– In the Trans-Baikal Territory, we have a project jointly with the Chinese partner China Energy Investment Corporation – the Zashulanskoye coal deposit, which we continue to develop. And our partners are showing serious interest in this project with reaching the design capacity of about five million tons per year, – shared Mikhail Khardikov. “We are also currently considering the possibility of building an export-oriented wind farm in Blagoveshchensk with China’s largest energy construction company, PowerChina. The installed capacity of the wind farm in different configurations can be up to 1 GW, annual electricity generation – up to 3.5 billion kilowatt-hours with delivery via the Blagoveshchensk-Heihe export overhead line.

The wind farm project is being implemented by the company on its own, without the use of state support mechanisms. Having a foreign partner interested in exporting energy is a great help, a way to recoup the project. In addition, the wind farm is very environmentally friendly.

“At present, PowerChina, our Chinese partner, has sold more than fifty high-altitude wind turbines,” the source said. – The standard height is up to 100 meters, and their windmills reach up to 140-150 meters. In Blagoveshchensk, from the point of view of technological solutions, there should be higher windmills due to the climate, while the capital costs for such a structure are not much higher, in fact, one section is added.

What is the topic of import substitution now fashionable? Here the company took the path in advance, the correctness of which has shown time.

– The main and most of the auxiliary equipment that we use at hydroelectric power stations, and at thermal stations, and at networks, is produced in Russia, – Mikhail Yuryevich emphasized. – Separately, I would like to note network equipment – ​​we have been actively purchasing and installing equipment from China for seven years now. Many energy companies that have faced restrictions on supplies from the West are just starting to work in this direction, but it is not so easy. The “pivot to the east” tendencies spurred the company to participate in the Eastern Economic Forum. And here the question is not only momentary expectations, but also strategy.

– We have repeatedly said that the issue of turning the economy to the East is a matter of balancing the strategic interests of the country. Our goal, and not only at the WEF, but in general, is to show that any development must be comprehensive. It is impossible to develop only the Far East, about which everyone is now actively talking. It is also necessary to develop the path to it, that is, for example, Eastern Siberia, – the interlocutor emphasized. – Today’s session was very interesting, we listened to representatives of the largest energy companies in Siberia and the Far East, as well as representatives of funding organizations and ministries. Everyone agrees on one thing – the infrastructure needs to be developed, without the development of the energy sector it is impossible to implement projects on the Eastern range and, in general, reorient the economy to the East. In this regard, the question of providing a long-term affordable source of funding for all these projects is inevitable.