Moscow, 29 April 2004. RAO "UES of Russia" has started the sale of ferrous and non-ferrous metal scrap/waste at auctions through its e-trading system "B2B-energo".

The first transaction was made by the Volga Hydroenergy Cascade Management Company (UK VoGEK). At the e-auction, a ferrous scrap lot was sold at a price 19% higher than the starting price and 55% higher than the average selling price for ferrous scrap in 2003. 15 entities took part in the auction, who submitted 75 bids.

Today, the Internet-based information and e-trading system "Goods, Services and Technology Markets for Electricity Industry - B2B-Energo" has over 1850 participants, including regional energos, AO-power plants, other enterprises of RAO UES Holding (principals), plants producing power engineering equipment, spare parts and other materials used in the electricity industry, energy equipment installation and R&M companies, and research and development institutions of the electric power sector, etc.

400 auctions have been held and 200 more are now being held through the ?2?-energo system. The overall trading volume of ?2?-energo is estimated at RUB3 billion.

RAO "UES of Russia" emphasized that in the near future, most goods and services for the electricity industry will be procured through the e-trading system. The use of electronic trading technologies will help minimize the effect of the human factor while making the market more fair and transparent. It will boost competition on the procurement market, help optimise prices and reduce the procurement costs and the time needed to obtain the necessary products, goods or services.