Chubais Forecasts Increase In Energy Tariffs In 2002

Energy tariffs are forecasted to go up 30-32% in Russia in 2002, Chief Executive Officer of RAO Unified Energy System of Russia Anatoly Chubais declared at a selector conference today. According to him, this data was taken into consideration while drafting the 2002 federal budget. The volume of electricity production is supposed to go up 1.5-2% next year compared to 2001. In addition, the head of the energy holding stressed that RAO UES was ready for the upcoming heating season. In particular, the volume of coal reserves amounts to 24.1m tons at Russian power stations. This makes 118% of the planned volume. The volume of black oil reaches 3.28m tons, i.e. 103% of the planned volume. In general, volumes of coal and black oil reserves at RAO UES' power stations are the highest this year compared to the last five years, Chubais added.