The Krasnodar thermal power station was visited by the head of Kuban Alexander Tkachev and the vice-president of OJSC Lukoil, the chief of the head department of energy sector Alexander Smirnov.

Three years ago the decision on reconstruction of the thermal power station with replacement of the out-of-date equipment with more effective was accepted. The investor of the project was company Lukoil.

According to the regional press-service, his visit the head of the region started with tour of exhibition of equipment for power generation. All presented samples are alternative to traditional energy sources: the coppers transforming a waste of wood manufacture into power, thermal pumps developing energy from air and water, solar batteries. In comparison with traditional technologies they are more harmless, accessible and economic. Many of them are already used in Krasnodar region.

Following the results of visiting of the exhibition the head of the region underlined that use of modern technologies should become a priority in development of the regional power system.

Alexander Tkachev had a look at work of power plant primary and secondary equipment, main control panel of the thermal power station, boiler-and-turbine shop.

For today the Krasnodar thermal power station is the largest power station of Krasnodar region. It provides with heat and electricity not only a part of the regional capital, but also rayons of Kuban. The main problem of the enterprise is deterioration of equipment, it has already been overused on three-four times.

Three years ago the decision on reconstruction of the thermal power station with replacement of the out-of-date equipment with more effective was accepted. The investor of the project was company Lukoil.

The Vice-president of Lukoil Alexander Smirnov told to the head of the region that the sum of investments into station reconstruction has already been 15 billion rubles. The last amount involved is about 20 billion rubles. After carrying out of reconstruction capacity of the station will be increased on 32 percent up to 1090 MW.

Then the governor was shown a unique object - being under construction combined cycle gas turbine unit made in Japan. There are still no analogues of such equipment in Russia. Capacity of the unit will be 410 megawatt. It will be entered into operation in 2011.

Right after visit on the thermal power station Alexander Tkachev held the meeting devoted to development of all power system of the region. Participation in its work was accepted by the first vice-head of the region Dzhambulat Khatuov, heads of branch departments of the region and enterprises of fuel-and-power sector.

- I think, you all perfectly understand that a problem root is in deterioration of equipment and really low capacity of power system of Kuban, - the head of the region said about the basic problem. - In many rayons, for example, foothills and coast, there are no alternative variants of power supply.

The first step to power supply system development, according to the head of the region, is building of new and reconstruction of existing power stations:

- The seen today on the Krasnodar thermal power station is really impresses. To my mind it is a live illustration of how billions rubles of investments run on the city and the region, on people, create new quality of life and open new prospects for economy.

The power problem, according to the head of the region, first of all constrained development of the regional economy the last years:

- We can make plans, plod away attractive image of the region and attraction of investors. But if there is no possibility for power supply, there will not be either new manufactures, nor building of inhabited quarters, development of resorts!

- Today the region provides only 35 percent of energy demanded, - the first vice-head of the region Dzhambulat Khatuov noted. - The head of the region set a task which will allow to get investment projects which will provide non-volatility of the region. Rather perspective development will be in southwest power area, Krasnodar also has the big prospects.

One more pressing question is power price. Some power companies work today in the region. Alexander Tkachev underlined, that effective competition is a pledge of dynamical development. And non-volatility will allow the region to bring rates on electric power down.

We need systematic, circumspect work on development of own generation base, on modernization of networks and substations, on application of alternative energy sources - building of wind farms. And it is necessary to do all simultaneously.

- Reconstruction of the Krasnodar thermal power station which we should finish in two years will allow to increase capacity of our main power station more than on one third - up to 1090 megawatt. In addition, four power stations with total capacity of 1050 megawatt are under construction on coast. The question of building of the fifth one - Anastasievskaya thermal power station near Novorossiysk with capacity of 250 megawatt - is studied, - the head of the region noted.

It is necessary to notice that at all stations being under construction - in Krasnodar, Sochi, and other territories of the region - the most advanced, economic and non-polluting technologies are used today, the advanced and effective equipment is mounted. One more important question is network sector modernization, which should be carried out as much as possible quickly.