Russia's Energy Ministry does not yet see any arguments for fully restoring electricity exports to China via 500 kV line - Minister Shulginov

MOSCOW. April 26 (Interfax) - Russia's Energy Ministry does not yet see any arguments in favor of fully restoring electricity exports to China via the 500 kV line, Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov told reporters.

However, Shulginov does allow for restoring supplies along the line within a year.

"We will see. There is usually a more powerful flooding in the Far East when the monsoon rains come, and this is August-September. We will see what this does for the accumulation of hydro resources, and we will return to the matter. Perhaps there would be a recovery for some period," he said.

In August 2023, the Energy Ministry announced a limitation of power flow to China via the Amurskaya-Heihe overhead line to 100-200 MW amid a shortage situation in the Eastern energy system. Inter RAO confirmed a decrease in exports via the specified overhead line from 600 MW to 100-200 MW. Deliveries via 110-220 kV overhead lines continued as planned.

Alexandra Panina, a member of the executive board of PJSC Inter RAO, operator of the export/import of electricity in Russia, in a conversation with journalists, estimated a decrease in supplies to China in January-February 2024 by 75% compared to the same period in 2023.