The issues of efficient use of energy resources are very important for Tatarstan, one of the country's major industrial centers. This was stated by the Rais of Tatarstan Rustam Nurgalievich Minnikhanov at a meeting of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan "On the implementation of the state program of the Republic of Tatarstan "Energy Resource efficiency in the Republic of Tatarstan" in 2023 and tasks for 2024" (hereinafter – the Meeting of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan). The event was held on April 3, 2024 at Kazan Expo within the framework of the Tatarstan International Forum on Energy and Energy Efficiency.
The meeting was held by the Prime Minister of Tatarstan Alexey Pesoshin. The Meeting of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan was attended by Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Pavel Nikolaevich Snikkars, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Mikhail I. Ivanov, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Belarus Denis Ravilevich Moroz, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Talaibek Askarovich Baigaziev, First Deputy Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan – Director of the Agency for the Development of Nuclear Energy (Uzatom) Azim Israilovich Akhmedkhadzhaev, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the CIS Electric Power Council Taras Vyacheslavovich Kupchikov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan – Minister of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Tatarstan Oleg Vladimirovich Korobchenko.
305 people took part in the Meeting of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan - heads and deputies of ministries and departments of the regions of the Russian Federation and CIS countries, members of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan, responsible employees of the Administration of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Tatarstan, deputies of the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan, heads of departments of territorial structures, federal government bodies, heads of municipalities and industrial enterprises and organizations of the Republic, scientific and educational community, heads of regional energy saving centers.
Rustam Minnikhanov noted that energy efficiency programs have been implemented in the republic for several decades. According to the results of last year, the energy intensity of GRP decreased by 2%, and compared to 2007 - by 22.3%. "It is important for us to realize our competitive advantages, including the efficient use of energy resources. We have significant reserves for this," the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan emphasized. He noted that despite the sanctions pressure, industrial production continues to grow. By the end of 2023, products worth 4.7 trillion rubles were shipped in Tatarstan. Industrial production volumes increased by 3.3%. "Tatarstan is a large industrial center and, accordingly, a large consumer of energy resources. In particular, we are one of the largest consumers of electricity and gas in Russia," Rustam Minnikhanov said. The Rais of the republic also noted that fuel and energy facilities faced a new serious threat - an attack by drones. "This issue requires maximum attention and coordination of forces," Rustam Minnikhanov said.
In his report, Deputy Prime Minister of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Tatarstan Oleg Korobchenko said that in 2023, electricity consumption in the republic amounted to more than 33 billion kilowatt hours, which is 1.1% higher than last year and 10.5% more than in 2018. It is planned to modernize the equipment of energy companies for a total capacity of 737 MW, to introduce generation at Kazanorgsintez for 311 MW and an incinerator plant for 50 MW. In connection with the active development of Kazan, the construction of a fourth energy source is being considered. In the electric grid sector, the average duration of emergency outages has decreased by almost a third in three years. The frequency of accidents and planned outages has decreased. As part of the transfer of the modernization project from the Zainskaya GRES, it is possible to put 236 MW into the Naberezhnye Chelny CHP. The number of fully digital substations in the Republic of Tatarstan will increase to 5 in the near future. There are more than 200 charging stations in the Republic of Tatarstan and over 900 electric vehicles are registered. In 2024, 20 more stations will be installed. Tatarstan holds a leading position in the use of natural gas fuel. More than 850 units of transport have been converted and purchased for methane. In total, more than 14 thousand vehicles are operated on the territory of the republic. The main task is to build a unified state policy for the development of the republic's energy system, which will take into account the interests of industrial enterprises, the construction complex and the population.
Then, the experience of implementing the municipal energy saving program in the Apastovsky district of the republic was shared by its head, Airat Ziganshin. The main goal of this program is to reduce the consumption of electrical and thermal energy, increase the efficiency of the heat of the burned fuel.
Eduard Galeev, General Director of TGC-16 JSC, informed about the projects dedicated to the modernization, renovation and maintenance of electric power plant equipment. He focused on all the projects implemented at the enterprise's stations under the COMMODUS program: for example, after turbine No. 3 at Kazan CHPP-3, the T-100 turbine at Nizhnekamsk CHPP-1 will be updated. In his speech, Eduard Galeev also touched upon the unique 9H.01 gas turbine manufactured by General Electric, installed at Kazan CHPP-3. Last year, GE Corporation stopped servicing its gas turbines installed at thermal power plants in Russia. Eduard Galeev said that the company had managed to obtain a fairly large volume of American-made spare parts before the sanctions. And the domestic company "Power Machines" is ready to start manufacturing underloaded parts.
Sergey Komissarov, General Director of Gazprom Gazomotor Fuel LLC, spoke about the efficiency of the development of the gas engine fuel market." In 11 years, the company has built 20 methane gas stations in Tatarstan and increased the production capacity of the network 2.7 times. In the coming years, infrastructure development will continue with an emphasis on highway projects. More than a thousand buses have been purchased since 2013. Eco-friendly passenger transport is successfully operating in Kazan, Naberezhnye Chelny, Zelenodolsk, Nizhnekamsk, Almetyevsk and other municipalities. The experience of Zelenodolsk is unique, where there are all modifications of buses powered by methane — large and medium-capacity vehicles, urban and suburban, factory and converted. The entire passenger fleet of Zelenodolsk district is powered by methane. The next step may be the gasification of transport for housing and communal services enterprises. Gazprom Gazomotor Fuel is ready to provide the necessary assistance. In 2023, in cooperation with the Center for Energy Resource Efficient Technologies, passenger transport was re-equipped for the transportation of employees of administrations, municipal and state institutions in Kazan, Naberezhnye Chelny and in 19 other districts.
Pavel Snikkars, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation, called Tatarstan's bid for diversification of electric generation at the meeting correct and very timely. And Rustam Minnikhanov, returning to the topic of Western sanctions and the tense geopolitical situation, stated that energy efficiency programs have been implemented in the republic despite the conjuncture for several decades. According to the results of last year, there was a decrease in the energy intensity of GRP by 2%, and compared to 2007 – by 22.3%. "It is important for us to realize our competitive advantages, including and on the efficient use of energy resources. We have significant reserves for this," the Rais of Tatarstan believes.