UES OF RUSSIA STARTS COMPLYING WITH KYOTO PROTOCOL
MOSCOW, February 16 (RIA Novosti) - The United Energy System of Russia (UES) company is going to fulfil more than 30 projects under the Kyoto protocol in the coming years, the company's press release reads.
Once implemented, the projects will allow a reduction in UES power stations' greenhouse emissions by at least 20 million tons.
"We mean the projects that are at different stages of completion," a UES spokesperson told RIA Novosti.
According to this person, two projects have been completed, whose reduced emissions are being contracted with the Danish environment protection agency under a tender issued by Denmark. Under the two projects, the aggregate annual emission drop exceeds 465,000 tons, with the deals worth about 12 million euros.
Another two projects are dedicated to converting the TETs-1 and TETs-2 heat and power plants in Khabarovsk in the Russian Far East which are in the final stages of preparations, with buyers already selected for their emissions, UES says.
The company expects the government in the second quarter of the year will take decisions relevant for enacting the Kyoto Protocol mechanisms.
Russian power plants claim about a third of the carbon emissions in Russia and about 3% of the global emissions.
"Emission reduction in most industries (and power generation is characterized by greenhouse gas emission) is achieved through enhancing the production and power-saving efficiency, switching to different types of fuel (e.g. from coal to gas or biological fuel) and introducing renewable energy sources. In addition, any steps to save fuel also result in emission reduction. Therefore, emission reduction efforts is compliant with investment, technical and environment protection goals of the Russian power generation industry," the press release reads.
UES in 2001 sets up the Energy Carbon Fund to shape the Kyoto Protocol mechanism infrastructure.
The company has elaborated a greenhouse emission estimate until 2015. According to the estimate, an "emission reserve' may emerge in 2010-12 in the power generation industry, equaling about 100 million tons a year. Part of the "reserve" might be sold on the international market under certain conditions to attract investment in energy-related programs, the UES spokesperson said.
The Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change has been ratified by 125 countries. It enters into force today. |
