One of the main discussion
topics during the Russian Energy Week International Forum will be the
development of infrastructure as a way to grow the economy and improve people’s
living standards.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister
Dmitry Kozak, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, Russian Railways CEO and Chairman of the
Management Board Oleg Belozerov, Sberbank CEO and Chairman of the Executive
Board Herman Gref, Rosseti Director General Pavel Livinsky, and Schneider
Electric Executive Vice President for Industry Business and Member of the
Executive Board Peter Herweck have been invited to take part in a plenary
session devoted to this issue. The session will be moderated by TV host and
Deputy Director of the Rossiya television channel and President of the
Bering-Bellingshausen Institute Sergey Brilev.
The need to develop the
country’s infrastructure is reflected in the May decree issued by Russian
President Vladimir Putin as a priority task for the coming years. The viability
of the socioeconomic environment of the country and its regions directly
depends on the condition of infrastructure.
“The development of the Moscow
transport hub is of key importance for the capital and for the economy of
Moscow and Russia as a whole because the Moscow metropolitan area accounts for
26% of the total GRP of all the country’s regions. At the same time, it is
essential to synchronize all large-scale transport projects so that they work
as efficiently as possible”, Sobyanin said.
During the session, the
leaders of infrastructure companies will share the first results of projects
that have already been implemented and identify priorities for the near future.
In particular, the draft plan for the development of the Russian Federation’s
core infrastructure provides for expenditures of RUB 6.8 trillion over the
period from 2019 to 2024. Transport infrastructure will make up the lion’s
share of the expenditures that are earmarked under the plan. Projects will be implemented
to develop the West–East and North–South transport corridors for cargo
transportation and increase of level of economic cohesion between the
territories of the Russian Federation through the expansion and modernization
of railway, aviation, road, sea, and river infrastructure.
A key target of the plan is to
guarantee affordable electricity in the country, including through the
electrification of the West–East and North–South transport corridors, including
the Baikal-Amur Mainline and the Trans-Siberian Railway, in conjunction with
the development of transport infrastructure. In addition, stable energy
supplies need to be provided to consumers in remote regions, particularly in
Crimea, Sevastopol, the Kaliningrad Region, and the regions of the Far Eastern
Federal District, and well-distributed energy generation needs to be developed,
including through renewable energy sources.
Intelligent systems also need to be introduced for power supplies in order to manage electric grid facilities based on digital technologies.
“Our main goal is to ensure
the country’s energy security. To this end, we not only need to maintain the
power grid assets and staff qualifications at a high level, but also constantly
introduce advanced and innovative solutions that will lay the foundation for
the stable operation of infrastructure for decades to come. We are glad that we
have an opportunity to discuss the first results and further prospects for the
implementation of our digitalization strategy with professional market
participants during Russian Energy Week”, Rosseti Director General Pavel
Livinsky said in comments on his company’s participation in the forum.