OREANDA-NEWS. On 24 March 2009 was announced, that the amount of electric energy consumption in Irkutskenergo region has decreased 6-7% in comparison with the year 2008. According to JSC Irkutskenergo, this is connected with a decline in output by the large industrial enterprises of the region which are the principle consumers of energy resources.

From 1 February to 21 February 2009, the level of energy consumption appeared to be 7.3% below compared with the similar period of the year 2008. Last year it was 3 billion 785 million 704 thousand kWh; this year it amounts to only 3 billion 509 million 856 thousand kWh. In January 2009, the electric energy consumption in the Irkutsk region was 5 billion 146 million 848 thousand kWh that is 10% below the January indicator, and 3% below the December 2008 indicator. In absolute figures, the reduction was 490 million 100 thousand kWh and 139 million 500 thousand kWh accordingly.

The power specialists note that the decrease in the level of power consumption first of all is caused by the slumping demand for products of large industrial consumers. The latter have to reduce volumes of production, and this entails a decline in consumption of energy resources. For example, Usoliekhimprom reduced electric energy consumption by 35%.

The experts do not preclude the further decline in volumes of energy consumption at the industrial enterprises due to the economic circumstances. Therefore, the forecast provided in 2008 may be reconsidered. In particular, last year it was supposed that the electric power consumption in Angarski Krai in 2009 would remain at the same level - nearby 55 billion kWh.