MOSCOW, October 23 (RIA Novosti) - Electric power output in Russia grew 4.7%, year-on-year, in the first nine months of 2006, to 718.73 billion kWh, the Industry and Energy Ministry said Monday.
The ministry said heat and electric power stations generated 473.26 billion kWh in January-September, representing an increase of 6.7% on the same period last year.
Nuclear power plants generated 115 billion kWh, up 6.4% on last year, while the output of hydroelectric power stations declined 2.3%.
The ministry said heat and electric power stations accounted for 65.8% of total electricity output in the reporting period, hydroelectric power plants 18.1%, and nuclear power plants 16%, as compared with 64.6%, 19.6% and 15.7%, respectively, a year ago.
Electricity consumption in the reporting period grew 4.1%, to 706.8 billion kWh.
The head of the Russia's Unified Energy System said Friday the electricity monopoly would consider reducing the volume of electricity exports during the coming winter to cover the domestic energy shortfall.
A cold spell that hit Russia last winter seriously strained the country's power grid, and rising energy consumption this year created a generating capacity shortfall.
Anatoly Chubais, speaking after a regular session of the CIS Electricity Council in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, said that UES would review its import and export relations with neighboring Ukraine, Belarus, Caucasus countries and the Baltic States, to minimize electricity exports and maximize imports.
"An extremely difficult situation is currently developing in Russia with the shortfall in power capacity," Chubais said. "Given that situation, we are forced to maximize the use of existing capacity during the autumn-winter [consumption] peak."
He added there would be no major changes to export and import relations between Russia and Kazakhstan.
In mid-September, Unified Energy System approved a list of 16 regions in Russia where power supply this winter will be restricted.
Ukrainian Deputy Energy Minister Oleksiy Sheberstov said in late September that Ukraine was ready to help Russia cover its electric power deficit with the spare capacity of its power plants, particularly the Krasnodar Territory in southern Russia, which borders on Ukraine.
"Russia is facing an electric power deficit and has asked us for export help," Sheberstov said, adding the country has spare power capacity totaling 5 million kilowatts at three power plants.
He suggested Russia supply natural gas to the plants in exchange for electricity.
"One power unit with a capacity of 800 MW needs some 130 million cubic meters of gas per month," Sheberstov said.
