Mintimer Shaimiev: Energy cluster in Tatarstan being built ahead of schedule

The task of forming an energy cluster, including the power supply branch, set out in a presidential address to the parliament, is being implemented slightly ahead of schedule, told journalists Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev. He made the statement after touring new industrial facilities built in Lahishevsky District by Tatarstan’s key energy supplier JSCTatenergo.

The Tatenergo General Director Ilshat Fardiyev said the construction was performed by domestic and foreign contractors, selected in a tender and offering newest technologies.

Late last year, a switchboard production facility was put into operation jointly with the Russian branch leader Eltekhnika. The products are in demand both in and outside Tatarstan. At the moment, the plant assembles products from components supplied by third parties but, Mr Shaimiev was assured, extensive localisation was to be done in the future.

OOO Tatteploizolatsia, sited within the same grounds, has rolled out import-substituting production of urethane foam insulated pipes (“pipe-in-pipe”) using a Finnish technology. The plant manufactures pipes of various types and diametres, from 125 mm to 1,200 mm. The “eternal” pipes are used to lay main and access electricity networks and to transport gas and oil. The Tatarstan’s chief executive was pleased to note that the plant received orders from across the whole of Russia.

The visit proceeded by a presentation by the Invent group, engaged in manufacturing and sales of power, heating and construction products. The group applies state-of-the-art production and service technologies. According to the group’s chief Elbek Safayev, 2.7 billion roubles has so far been invested in the its companies, all of which are located inside Tatarstan.

One more unique project was announced during the president’s tour, a cable plant, to be sited in the town of Stolbische. The factory is to manufacture the complete range of cable products for the energy industry. Most of such products are at the moment imported.

The Q-Park, a huge logistics centre built a short while ago near the Kazan international airport, was another site shown to the president. The international electric firm Schneider Electric that had, with the participation of the Invent group, set up a low and medium voltage devices plant, was one of the first to rent space in the centre. As is known, the company had selected Tatarstan as its headquarters while expanding into the Russian regions. When asked about the reasons behind the choice, the Schneider Electric CEO Henri Lachmann named the following: a favorable geographical position, the energy industry’s importance within the region and good relations with Mintimer Shaimiev and Ilshat Fardiyev.

The above mentioned address to the Tatarstan’s parliament reads that forming an energy cluster should allow the energy branch evolve from an industry infrastructure part to an independent industry sector exporting its products. The intention is to not only supply electrical energy but engineering services as well as machinery and instruments for the energy industry.