The Vice Prime Minister of the Government of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak called provision of the internal market with available energy resources one of the most important directions of the fuel and energy complex development of the country in his interview to RBC. «Fuel and energy complex is a big order for our industry and our science. It is a possibility to make a breakthrough in these directions,» — Vice Prime Minister said.
In his interview to RBC Alexander Novak noted that the fuel and energy complex is one of the leading industry branches of the country.
«Fuel and energy complex amounts to almost a quarter of the Gross Domestic Product; it ensures more than a half of Russian export; several million people work in the industry. Of course, the fuel and energy complex influences greatly both budgeting and inflow of investments: over 20% of investments are generated by the fuel and energy complex today. It is a big order for our industry and our science. It is a possibility to make a breakthrough in these directions,» — Alexander Novak said.
The Vice Prime Minister defined the directions of the country’s fuel and energy complex development as he sees it.
«This is provision of our internal market, our citizens with available high quality energy resources, our energy safety. Another direction is unlocking our potential in export of energy resources, not only as raw materials, but as high value-added products as well. This refers to development of such directions as oil and gas chemistry, LNG production, new energy: hydrogen, renewable energy sources. And we are talking not only about exporting Russian products, but also about Russian technologies and Russian equipment,» — Alexander Novak emphasized.
Speaking about the approved 2035 energy strategy of Russia, the Vice Prime Minister noted that development of new energy will become one of its priorities, while peculiarities of our country are to be considered.
«Renewable energy sources are another priority of our energy strategy, but not the first key if compared to the other and taking into consideration peculiarities of our country. We have got numerous Northern territories where the energy complex has been working in hybrid (cogeneration) mode producing electrical energy and heat since the Soviet times. We cannot avoid it or replace it with RES for sure. We have to produce heat by combusting gas,» — Alexander Novak claimed.
At this point the Vice Prime Minister noted that the country has a sufficiently high gasification level. It estimates at 71,4% according to the results of 2020. None the less, the economy requires it to be even higher. The Vice Prime Minister told about the Government’s plans aimed in solving this task.
«We want to alter the regulatory framework, introduce changes into the legislation and the RF Government Regulations which would transform the web of the relationships in this industry. We would like it to be similar to the electrical energy industry, where the consumer makes and application and concludes one agreement with the grid operator. There will be a single operator based on one of the largest gas distribution organization in each region. It will be fully responsible for gas supply. One of the tasks is to significantly reduce time of technological connection in the gas industry. Nowadays, the average time of gas technological connection is 270 days. We plan to reduce it down to 180,» — Alexander Novak stated.
Speaking of development of the renewable energy sources, Alexander Novak stressed that the growth of the share from 1% up to 4% is expected by 2035.
«In 2014 the Government approved a 10-year program which ends up in 2014. A package of solar energy and wind power plants construction expansionary measures is being implemented in strict adherence to it. Nowadays, about 100 power plants in the country are fed by sun and wind, which amounts in almost 2 GW of capacities. Another 6 GW will be commissioned in 2024. Now we are reviewing a possibility of prolonging the RES expansionary measures in our country for another 10 years. By 2035, RES should take a share of 4% (compared to the current 1%). But nevertheless, for our country it is a possibility to locate the production facilities for photo elements and equipment for wind power station,» – the Vice Prime Minister emphasized.
He also reminded that Russia is the country which signed the Paris agreement and set the goals of CO2 emissions by 2030.
