New energy capacities may be needed due to mining in Russia

Alexey Belogoryev, Deputy Principal Director on Energy Studies of the Institute for Energy and Finance, commented to the Vedomosti newspaper on the problem of illegal mining from the point of view of the functioning and development of the electric power industry in the south of Eastern Siberia.

The biggest problems with the load on the network due to mining are observed in the Irkutsk region and Khakassia due to cheaper electricity for the population, Alexey Belogoryev says. According to him, the construction of new capacities in these regions may be necessary if mining volumes grow "very much".

Now it seems necessary to distribute costs more fairly among electricity consumers, legalize miners and conclude commercial energy contracts with them, Belogoryev adds. In his opinion, the legalization of mining will also create investment resources for the development of networks and, if necessary, for the construction of new capacities.