Baltic Development Forum initiates dialogue with Russian partners and co-organises energy workshop in Kaliningrad, Russian Federation - Preliminary Report
On 10-11 June 2009, Baltic Development Forum (BDF), together with Baltic Sea Region Energy Co-operation (BASREC), Nordic Council of Ministers' Information Office in Kaliningrad and the Government of the Kaliningrad Region of the Russian Federation co-organised the energy workshop: “Energizing Sustainable Growth”, which took place in Kaliningrad, Russian Federation.
The Energy Commission of the Union of Baltic Cities, as well as Gasunie, Strategic Partner of BDF took active part in the workshop, by presenting their vision and concrete cooperation projects in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR).
The objective of the workshop was to strengthen the dialogue with Russian partners on federal and regional level as a basis for closer climate and energy co-operation in the BSR. Not least due to the geographical situation of Kaliningrad, a closer integration in the regional energy planning and infrastructure development is important to observe more closely.
The Ministry of Infrastructure Development of the Kaliningrad Region, Kaliningrad Regional Centre for Energy Efficiency, Administration of the city district of Kaliningrad, State Technical University, INTER RAO (leading exporter and importer of electric power in Russia) and the Energy Forecasting Agency in St. Petersburg were represented at the workshop. There was a clear signal for more open and constructive dialogue in order to strengthen the cooperation. The instruments and methods for better energy efficiency, energy planning on municipal level, reduction of CO2 emissions and the methodology of energy resources forecasting were emphasized by Russian representatives during their presentations.
In order to increase energy safety in the region and satisfy the current electricity needs of the Baltic Region, representative from INTER RAO informed about the plans to build the Nuclear Power Station “Yantar” in the Kaliningrad region. The construction works are foreseen to begin in 2010 and the first unit is expected to be put into operation in 2016. The second unit will begin working from 2018 with a functioning duration of 50 years. The division of shares in the project is: 51% - state corporation “Rosatom” and 49% divided within the private sector, including foreign investors. According to INTER RAO there are plans to build another two new nuclear power plants in the BSR: in Lithuania (Visagin) – under negotiation process and in Byelorussia (Mogilev) – start of works depends on solving the financing issues with Russia.
At the workshop, the preliminary results of the study Enhanced Regional Energy Co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region, carried out by Ea Energy Analyses (see document on News page) on BDF’s behalf, were presented. The study has two parallel objectives. 1) To promote a common energy agenda for the BSR through the involvement of key stakeholders. 2) To provide a substantial basis for discussion of different energy scenarios for the region based on an analysis of energy data of all the countries/regions in the BSR.
The workshop welcomed the study as a very useful instrument. Closer co-operation in energy planning and in energy grid development was needed. The above mentioned information on the nuclear power plants was a clear testimony of this fact.
Furthermore it came out clearly that there was a need for more information and data on the power generating facilities on the Russian side. INTER RAO was open for providing additional information that would improve the findings and accuracy of the energy study.
It also came out clearly that there was a need for a common methodology on energy data, including data on CO2 emissions. During the workshop it was agreed that the Ea Energy Analyses would visit the Energy Forecasting Agency in St. Petersburg in mid August, in order to improve the dialogue and exchange the views in collecting data from the North Region of the Russian Federation.
With regard to energy efficiency and renewable energies (including wind power) the huge potential in the Kaliningrad region was so far untapped which was to a large extent linked to the price and tariff policies on electricity and energy in general.
The overall conclusion of the workshop was that there is a need to continue the cooperation at the level of municipalities, cities around the BSR and universities, by organising networking seminars or conferences on a regular basis. Kaliningrad could serve as an experimental area for the energy efficiency for the other cities and regions in the Russian Federation.
The organisers will elaborate shared conclusions and recommendations as a basis for further co-operation. They will be presented on the BDF website as soon as the parties have agreed upon their wording.
