The System Operator of the Unified Energy System (SO UES) will begin operations in the Norilsk energy system in January 2024. The partial transfer of functions to SO UES will help Norilsk benefit from its vast experience in energy asset management, planning and development.

Nornickel and SO UES have been working together since June 2022, after signing an agreement on the margins of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. The document was the result of amendments to the Federal Law On the Electric Power Industry, which provides for the transfer of dispatch process control of all isolated power systems, such as Norilsk’s one, to the System Operator.

**Nornickel Vice President for Energy Evgeny Fyodorov (left) and Fyodor Opadchy, Chairman of Russia’s United Energy System Operator (right) at the main step-down substation #52 in Norilsk**

Over the past six months, the companies have prepared a plan and started the technical implementation of the project. On 20 and 21 November, Fedor Opadchy, Chairman of the Management Board at the SO UES, and his First Deputy Sergey Pavlushko, together with Evgeny Fyodorov, Nornickel’s Vice President, and Sergey Lipin, CEO of Norilsk-Taimyr Energy Company (NTEC), assessed the scale of operations at Russia’s northernmost energy system.

Some of the functions transferred to the System Operator will be delegated to the SO UES control centre in Krasnoyarsk. Dispatchers from Krasnoyarsk will be introduced to the singularities of the polar energy system while working together with their Norilsk colleagues. All the preparations are expected to last one more year.

Evgeny Fyodorov, Nornickel’s Vice President for Energy, commented: “Although relatively small, our energy system is extremely important. According to the federal law, a part of energy system control functions must be transferred to the System Operator starting January 2024. We are committed to complying with the federal laws. In addition, we can see the System Operator’s expertise in controlling the nationwide energy system. So, we are sure that the application of this expertise in the Norilsk Industrial District will boost the efficiency of our energy sector.”

Fedor Opadchy, Chairman of the Management Board at the SO UES, commented: “We will use the information provided by the colleagues to enhance our understanding of how to manage the energy system going forward. We have seen a responsible team working here and developed a positive view of the energy system with its modern substations and upgraded generating facilities. The role of energy workers is locally greater than elsewhere. In a big energy system, we always have an opportunity to tap into reserves from other parts of the country and make use of special tools for attracting investments from the market. Here, on the contrary, the energy system must always be self-sufficient. This is achieved through the efforts of the company, which recognises the primary importance of the energy sector for the region’s industry and society. We still have a lot of challenges ahead, but for today we are progressing in line with the schedule and are very optimistic about the future.”

System Operator of the Unified Energy System to start operations in Norilsk