RusHydro (HydroOGK) - Modernization Loan

Overview
Project Summary Document
Environmental and Social Documentation
Procurement
Complaints

Project ID 36725

Status Complete

Location

Russia

Business Sector

Energy

Notice Type

State

Project timeline

Exploratory
Passed Concept Review
Passed Structure Review
Passed Final Review
Board Approved
Signed
Implementing
Completed

Project ID 36725

Status Complete

Location

Russia

Business Sector

Energy

Notice Type

State

Environmental Category

Approval Date

25 Jul 2006

Disclosure date

16 Mar 2006

As per section 1.4.2 (iii) of the Directive on Access to Information: "For Projects approved by Bank management where the Board of Directors has delegated the approval authority, the PSD shall be disclosed at the start of the relevant no-objection notification period to a member country of the Bank in accordance with Article 13 (iii) of the Agreement Establishing the EBRD."

Project Description

Financing of the refurbishment of several units of the 10,000 MW Volga-Kama hydro cascade and development of renewable sources of energy.

Transition Impact

The proposed project is fully consistent with the Bank’s Strategy for the Russian Federation BDS/RF/00-1 (Final). “In the context of its existing loan to RAO UES, the EBRD has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Russian authorities to work together towards reform of the electricity sector in a way which promotes transparency and competition. The EBRD will continue to proactively promote reform of this sector, particularly through its membership on the restructuring committee”.

The Project is also in line with the Bank’s Energy Operations Policy in promoting renewable sources of energy. In particular, the policy directs the Bank to engage in “policy dialogue with local authorities to develop suitable market-oriented regulation and incentives in support of renewable energies”. The proposed loan to Hydro OGK will be a logical continuation of Bank’s involvement in sector restructuring and market establishment, as well as efficiency improvement of the existing generation facilities, in particular, the hydro portfolio.

Promoting renewable sources of energy
The investment will facilitate the development of the renewable energy resources in Russia. While the progress of the electricity sector reform has been encouraging, little has been done in Russia to encourage the renewable energy resource development. As Hydro OGK has been tasked by the Government with the mission to head the development of non-traditional energy resources in Russia, the development of the regulatory and legal framework (where the project will allow to direct the TC funds) as well as financing of the alternative renewable component of the project will set the stage for the Bank’s further involvement in this sector.
Facilitating sector restructuring
The proposed project will be a next logical step in the Bank’s involvement in the Russian power sector restructuring which began with the RAO UES Restructuring Loan. As part of the sector restructuring and unbundling, the long-term viability of Hydro OGK is paramount to the stability, reliability and success of the electricity sector reforms in Russia.
Promoting competitive market development
Strengthening the hydro capacity will ensure the system reliability and efficient wholesale market functioning. It is impossible to have a functioning market without the sufficient generation capacity and regulating reserve capacity. Hydro OGK is responsible for provision of 90% of the country’s regulating reserves. The current technological obsolescence of the hydro generation portfolio is a substantial risk factor, which could adversely affect the transition to competitive relations in the power sector. Russia’s low cost hydro will also ensure that as the competitive market evolves prices are still kept at an affordable level.
Promoting commercial efficiency and functioning
Through the hydro station equipment rehabilitation and replacement, the investment will facilitate increased efficiency and reliability of the whole electricity system in Russia. Severe underinvestment in the hydro generation capacity in the past has led to significant deterioration and obsolescence of the hydro generation portfolio, inefficient operation of facilities, loss of the capacity availability and high risk of accidents with serious environmental and social consequences.

The Client

The Federal Hydroelectric Power Generation Company (OAO Hydro OGK) was established in December 2004 as 100% subsidiary of RAO UES, one of the Bank’s key clients, with the aim to own and operate the hydro generation facilities of Russia.

At the completion of the consolidation process, the company will own and operate 23 large scale hydro facilities and will be the largest power generator in Russia responsible for supplying 15-20% of the power market in Russia.

EBRD Finance

Senior Debt Facility of up to RUB 6.3 bln (190 million Euro equivalent) (to be syndicated for a minimum of 50%) to finance infrastructure upgrade/refurbishment.

Project Cost

RUB 11.4 billion.

Environmental Impact

Project summary

Hydro OGK is a 100% owned subsidiary of RAO UES of Russia and the Company charged with the ownership and operation of hydro power stations in the Russian Federation. HydroOGK currently operates hydropower plants located throughout Russia with 21,350 MW of installed capacity that account for around 10% of the installed capacity of the Russian Federation. Upon completion of the company’s consolidation, HydroOGK will operate hydropower plants with 27,273 MW of installed capacity.

The project is to finance the upgrade/refurbishment of existing infrastructure owned by the company, mainly the Volga-Kama cascade. This includes nine hydro power plants of the Volga-Kama cascade, many of which date from the middle of last century and are in need of repair and upgrade. The planned project will include installation of new transformers, turbines, new pressurised oil filled cable power lines as well as security and automated control systems.

The Bank will provide finance for part of an overall modernization programme being undertaken by Hydro OGK at existing facilities in Russian Federation. The Bank’s financing of the proposed projects will not involve any change of the hydro regimes or construction of new hydrological structures (such as dams) or new generating assets.

Environmental classification and rationale

The project was screened B/1, requiring an Environmental Audit and Environmental Analysis in line with the Bank’s Environmental Policy and Public Information Policy. The modernisation of existing hydro plants is focussing mainly on rehabilitating and modernizing existing facilities, which are associated with a number of environmental issues, which can be readily identified, assessed and mitigated as part of an Environmental Analysis.

As part of the environmental due diligence an Environmental Audit and Analysis was undertaken by an independent consultant. A separate technical and safety review was also undertaken.

Key environmental issues and mitigation

The key environmental issues for existing hydrogeneration plants are normally associated with the impact such plants can have on local hydro regimes, fish management as well as risk of oil leakage from existing machines. The impacts are greatest during any development and change of operational regime. The environmental due diligence confirmed that the project is structured in accordance with best international practice and will enable the facilities to attain both EU and Russian Federation environmental and safety standards. The Company has spent considerable effort in maintaining its existing structures and day-to-day environmental management. The ongoing investment programme will enable the facilities to be further upgraded, ensuring that they continue to meet best international practice as well as Russian Federation environmental and safety standards. The Bank will monitor the project through among others the procurement programme, which will enable the selection of appropriate technology and equipment, which meets both EU and Russian standards.

A corporate environmental, health and safety review was undertaken of the Hydro OGK as part of the due diligence. This included review of corporate EHS structure, operational and development control and management. The company is implementing an environmental management system based on policy requirements from RAO UES of Russia and is implementing new procedures and guidance for the sector. The Bank will work with the company in developing new guidance as appropriate.

Environmental opportunities

The proposed project is expected to bring significant environmental and energy efficiency benefits, as new state-of-the-art energy efficient generating units will replace old inefficient units and therefore provide more reliable and efficient electricity generation utilizing existing infrastructure. The increased power generation capacity of the existing HPPs creates an opportunity to lower carbon emissions per unit of electricity generated on macro level by increasing the share of renewable energy in the grid and by reducing the need for additional fossil-fuel based power generation capacity or even by substituting some of the existing capacity. The project will therefore yield possible carbon reduction opportunities. The Project will also reduce oil leakage from existing units.

Summary of Environmental Action Plan

The Company will be required to adhere to Russian Federation environmental, health and safety regulations and EU environmental standards. All relevant permits will need to be obtained during the modernization process.

An Environmental Action Plan (EAP) has been developed following the due diligence and is being agreed with the Company. The EAP will address, inter alia, the overall management of the environment, health and safety issues at the corporate level as well as individual sites.

Disclosure of information and consultation

In the context of the EBRD’s participation in the project, the Company will release locally a summary of relevant environmental issues associated with the project and summarise mitigation measures, action plans and other initiatives agreed.

Monitoring and reporting

The Company will monitor the environmental impact of its operations in accordance with national law and regulations. The Bank will evaluate the project's compliance with the applicable environmental and social requirements during the lifetime of the project by reviewing annual environmental reports prepared for the project covering:

(i) ongoing performance of project-specific environmental, health and safety activities as reflected in the results of periodic and quantitative sampling and measuring programmes, and

(ii) the status of implementation of environmental mitigation and improvement measures. The Bank’s representatives will also conduct periodic site supervision visits when deemed appropriate.

If required, the Bank will carry out monitoring visits to individual plants and will meet with the Company’s EHS management on an annual basis.

Technical Cooperation

Under this proposed financing, the Bank will also provide TC support for the development of necessary regulatory and legal infrastructure for renewable energy. The primary focus is currently on the wind as most promising in the Russian geographical and climate context.

PSD last updated

01 Feb 2019

Business opportunities

For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement: Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com

General enquiries

EBRD project enquiries not related to procurement:
Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
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Public Information Policy (PIP)

The PIP sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders so as to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations. Please visit the Public Information Policy page below to find out how to request a Public Sector Board Report.
Text of the PIP

Environmental and Social Documentation is not available for this project.

Selected procurement notices related to this project may be shown below. Further procurement opportunities related to this and other projects, if available, maybe be viewed in the EBRD Procurement Portal.

The EBRD's Environmental and Social Policy (ESP), Access to Information policy (AIP) and Project Accountability Policy (PAP) enable sound and sustainable development in its projects. The Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM) deals with complaints about environmental, social and disclosure matters related to the Bank’s investments.

No complaints about this project have been made so far.

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