Moscow, 22 December 2006. Today, Russia, the CIS countries and the Baltic republics are marking the Energy Workers' Day for the 86th time. This year, the professional holiday coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Unified Energy System of Russia and the 85th anniversary of the dispatching system of the country's energy system.

The Energy Workers' Day dates back to December 1920, when the GOELRO Plan was adopted. This energy policy document targeted the creation of an electricity industry as a basis for the development of the national economy in the USSR. The power plants built during that period had a total capacity of 1,750 MW.

The GOELRO plan gave a powerful impetus to Russia's electricity sector. This plan was continued by establishment and development of the Unified Energy System of the USSR. It multiplied the country's industrial potential and became a major factor contributing to economic development, by uniting all industrial regions.

RAO "UES of Russia" is the basis for the nation's electricity industry. It is the largest Russian electricity company, employing over half a million people. The installed capacity of RAO UES power plants is 157,700 MW, which represents 72.2% of the total installed capacity of Russia's power plants and over 70% of all electricity generated in the country.

The year now ending was crucial for the Russian electricity sector. It saw the launch of the new liberalized model for the wholesale and retail electricity markets, approval of the Parent Company's reorganization, and a decision in principle to attract private investments in the sector. As a result, the Company was able to start a large-scale five-year electricity sector investment programme for the period until 2011.

Someone has already called this investment programme the "GOELRO-2 Plan". Under the programme, within the next 5 year, new power units with the total installed capacity of 23 GW will be put on line. The new construction projects will be financed with private investment. OAO "WGC-5" was an "IPO pioneer" which successfully floated on the Russian stock market and raised USD459 million in private investments for the Russian electricity sector.

The year ending has seen the launch of key energy facilities in some regions, such as the Pravoberezhnaya CHPP, Power Unit 2 at the Severo-Zapadnaya CHPP, St.-Petersburg, the third start-up complex at the Zelenchukskaya HPP, Cherkessk, and power unit 4 at the Khabarovskaya CHPP-3 in the city of Khabarovsk in Russia's Far East. On 25 December 2006, power unit 2 will be put into operation at the Chelyabinskaya CHPP-3.

Next year will bring a lot of challenging work and a joy to see the results of our efforts. RAO "UES of Russia" sends greetings to all energy workers of Russia, the CIS countries and the Baltic republics and wishes them every success in their endeavours, happiness, good health, and prosperity, and well-being in the New Year.