IRKUTSK, August 6 (Itar-Tass) —— Energy Cooperation in Asia will reduce the energy deficit in Russia. This understanding is promoting at the Baikal economic forum and its annual international energy conference, Director of the Energy Systems Institute named after Melentyev at the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, corresponding member of RAS Nikolai Voropay said.
According to the scientist, energy consumption in Russia’s eastern regions in 2030 may double against 2010 to 400-470 billion kWh, including that in the eastern part – to 290-335 billion kWh. Emerging shortage of electricity may be reduced not only by construction of new power plants, but also by development of inter-state energy relations in Northeast Asia. For example, in the summer, when electricity consumption in eastern Russia is at a minimum, in the neighbouring Asian countries, there is a peak winter consumption season – right on the contrary. Energy integration of Asian countries will smooth schedules of consumption in each of them.
“Now, Russia’s policy keeps the eastern vector, and the Baikal Economic Forum and its international energy conference are of interest for North-East Asia’s countries,” Voropay said.
The scientist confirms that integration of Asian countries, including in energy, may require more than a decade.
“Europe was approaching the EU for decades. In our region integration is much more complicated for differences in mentalities and historical issues, though it may be more productive. North-East Asia’s countries may add to each other in resources, capital, technologies, labour force,” he said.
Meetings of scientists, including within the framework of the Baikal forum, have been quite fruitful already. For example, the Energy Systems Institute began to work on several projects in cooperation with the Institute of Electric Power in Beijing. They study issues concerning construction, production, transmission and distribution, new technologies and power management, as well as power systems reliability.