OREANDA-NEWS. December 17, 2007. In 2007, SibCOTES developed over 30 Preliminary Feasibility Studies for the construction of new power facilities, still larger scope of such work is expected for 2008. This information was provided during a press-conference devoted to summarizing the results of the year. SibCOTES’ top management – Dmitry Serant, the General Director, Feliks Serant, the Deputy General Director for Development, Anton Milto, the Deputy General Director for Marketing and Sales – made presentations for the Novosibirsk journalists on December 8.

In 2007, development of Feasibility Studies (Pre-F/S) constituted a large scope of the work implemented by the Company. At this stage it is necessary to show the Customer possible engineering solutions, their cost, payback period, realization conditions (time and resources required). Today, the specialists of the Company are developing Pre-Feasibility Studies for various power facilities all over Russia. They include the development of investment substantiation for the reconstruction and development of Uzhno-Kuzbasskaya Power Plant (Kaltan city), Novosverdlovskaya CHP Plant (Yekaterinburg), Nizhniturinskaya Power Plant, development of investment proposals for the construction of a CHP Plant in Sovetskaya Gavan city. 

According to Feliks Serant, the development of an investment project for the continuation of Omskaya CHP-6 Plant construction has become one of the most important projects. Several options for firing Kuznetsky coal in the boilers having various configurations were proposed to the Customer (TGK-11). As a result, the Customer selected the circular furnace boiler – the innovation suggested by the SibCOTES’ specialists – featured by a high efficiency and good environmental performance. The results of the tender launched by TGK-11 to find an EPC Contractor to continue the construction of Omskaya CHP-6 Plant are expected to be announced this week.  

Along with the coal technologies for several projects SibCOTES considers combined cycle plants and gas technologies. The problem of firing low-grade local fuels to reduce the prime cost through minimizing transportation expenses and other costs is very urgent for a number of power facilities. At present, SibCOTES is involved in such work, i.e. the documentation is under development for the investment project for the construction and operation of a power generating facility at the site in Syktyvkar city, which is expected to use local fuel.   

In 2007, SibCOTES continued its close cooperation with industrial enterprises. A ‘turnkey’ project for the construction of a boiler with the steaming capacity of 220t/h for CHP Plant owned by Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Works was implemented. According to Anton Milto, today it is the largest EPC project implemented by the Company.

An Agreement on the realization of a work package for the development of Detailed Design, construction and commissioning of a coal preparation unit for a Dust Plant at Arkhangelskaya CHP Plant was signed with TGK-2. The works are being implemented within the program for switching the power plant from fuel oil to coal firing, and today, design and engineering, as well as the development of new design solutions and equipment procurement are under way.    

Within the program for elimination of plutonium production at reactors ADE-4 and ADE-5 (Seversk city), SibCOTES implemented commissioning work for the production equipment at the CHP Plant owned by Siberian Chemical Association. Comprehensive testing of one of the boiler units and steam-water-oxygen cleaning and passivation of another one are scheduled for December 2007. The project realization is expected to be completed in December 2008, with a stage-by-stage launching of the reconstructed facilities. By the end of the year, SibCOTES is expected to put online four boilers with the steaming capacity of 230t/h and one turbine plant TP-100.   

Since 2003, SibCOTES has been the General Designer for Novosibirskenergo, and today it is implementing over 60 projects within the Novosibirsk power system. Launching of Olovozavodskaya and Teplovaya-2 substations, which were reconstructed using the Company’s projects, took place in 2007. The first system to be launched for the ash disposal area No.2 at CHP-5 Plant was put into operation in October (Basic Design and Field Supervision by SibCOTES). In 2007, the share of the Company work within the Novosibirsk power system in the whole scope of the Company orders decreased down to 20-25% due to the fact that the peak for a period when large power facilities had been constructed was already in the past, and today only substations, thermal and power networks are constructed.   

In 2007, SibCOTES continued its active development and strengthened its positions in many regions, particularly, in Tomsk and Irkutsk, where the Company opened its new Offices. Last year, the work of the new branches became stable; they implemented a number of projects and are planning to implement about 10 design and commissioning projects (each subsidiary) for 2008.     

In 2007, the number of employees increased by approximately 20%, and today 620 specialists work for the Company. The portfolio of the Company’s business increased 1.5 times against 2006. The Company is simultaneously implementing 264 projects. And about 40 projects are being prepared. SibCOTES’ revenue has grown as well: by the end of the year the revenue is expected to reach one billion roubles.

In 2007, SibCOTES was awarded several prizes. The Company was included in the TOP 200 International Design Firms operating in foreign markets in 2006 (according to Engineering News-Record) and was ranked 107 in the TOP 200 largest Novosibirsk companies subject to its turnover in 2006. SibCOTES was recognized as the Company with High Class Finance and Accounting Arrangements and became the prizewinner of the National Business Award  “The Company of the Year - 2007” (in the category “Fuel and Energy Complex”). Three SibCOTES’ specialists became the prizewinners during the Young Specialists Competition held by RAO UES of Russia in October. 

For 2008 the Company plans to strengthen all its six Branch Offices, in particular, the Kazakhstan subsidiary. At present, the Kazakhstan office is actively hiring new employees, who will work in the project for the reconstruction of a 350kW power unit at Aksuskaya Power Plant (former Ermakovskaya Power Plant) in 2008. The negotiations with TGK-2 on the installation of four 210 MW combined-cycle plants and with TGK-5 on the application of a dry ash-and-slag removal system at Reftinskaya Power Plant, which should become the first project of such type in Russia, are at their final stage.

The Company pays great attention to the application of the state-of-the-art engineering solutions ensuring improved equipment efficiency and environmental performance of power plants. Within its projects the Company introduces both in-house and foreign innovations. As Feliks Serant stated, SibCOTES was doing research work both by itself and together with the scientific and research institutes. At present, SibCOTES’ specialists are expected to complete the development of oil-free ignition technology, which has a very good potential, due to the growing shortage (as well as higher prices) of fuel oil and gas.