OREANDA-NEWS. September 9, 2010. JSC FGC UES, JSC RusHydro and JSC Mechel signed Cooperation Agreement. The Agreement defines interaction of the parties under realization of investment projects on Nizhne-Bureyskaya HPP and Elgin coal complex construction. The Agreement was signed by Chairman of JSC Mechel Board of Directors Igor Zyuzin, Chairman of JSC RusHydro Management Board Eugeniy Dod and Chairman of JSC FGC UES Management Board Oleg Budargin.

In accordance with the signed Agreement JSC RusHydro is to build Nizhne-Bureyskaya HPP and also develop the plant power output scheme. JSC Mechel is to provide for commissioning of electric load facilities of Elgin coal complex. In its turn JSC FGC UES is to build facilities for power supply for Elgin coal complex and the scheme of Nizhne-Bureyskaya HPP power output.

In January 2010 JSC FGC UES, JSC Mechel and JSC SO UES agreed the scheme of external power supply for Elgin coal complex. Construction of electric grid facilities for the complex external power supply will start in 2011 and will be carried out in two stages. Within the firs stage by 2013 JSC FGC UES will conduct the following works in Amur region: reconstruction of substation 220 kV Prizeyskaya, construction of three new substations 220 kV and power transmission line 20 kV Prizeyskaya – Elgaugol with the length of 270 km. By 2015 it is planed to accomplish the following work: expansion of switchgear 220 kV at substation Prizeyskaya, construction of the second power transmission line 220 kV Prizeyskaya – Elgaugol and also installation of the second autotransformer 125 MVA at substation 220 kV Elgaugol.

Construction of electric power facilities for power supply for Elgin coal complex is included in draft investment program of JSC FGC UES for 2010-2014 submitted for approval to the Ministry of energy of the Russian Federation.

Elgin coal field is the largest in Russia. It is located in the south-eastern part of Yakutia, 415 km to the east of Neryungri and 300 km from Baikal-Amur trunk line. Balance (proved) reserves amount to 2.7 billion tons.