Construction of new hydropower plants planned on Kuril Islands

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, December 16. /TASS/. The government of the Sakhalin Oblast plans to build a cascade of small hydropower plants on the Kuril Islands, especially on the Paramushir island. Power plants are needed to eliminate energy deficit that emerged because of new fish processing plants, the press service of the region’s governor said on Wednesday. "Residents of the north Kurils are provided with electricity with a diesel power station with the capacity of 1,600 kW and thermal energy of 1.2 kW per hour. Electric generators are working at full capacity but it is not enough to provide electricity to fish processing plants. Electricity supply has increased only by 8.5 percent this year," the press service said. The problem can be solved by constructing a small hydropower plant. There are currently two lines of small hydropower plants on the Matrosskaya River. One more HPP is planned worth up to $3.5 million, and it is expected to pay off in about three years. Sakhalin Oblast Governor Oleg Kozhemyako supported the project. "It is a good cause, we will support it," he said. Read more