On the 21st of June of this year, within the International Economic Forum in Saint Petersburg, JSC IDGC Holding (RF), Eurocontract – High-Voltage Switchgear LLC (RF) and China XD-Electric Co., Ltd (People’s Republic of China) signed a trilateral agreement. It opens new perspectives of international cooperation between Russia and China and modernization of the distribution power grid complex. JSC IDGC Holding’s partners governed by the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation and the China Atomic Energy Authority dated September 27, 2010 undertook to perform stage-by-stage process of high-voltage switching equipment localization at the production site in the Russian Federation.
During the negotiations in June 2011, Eurocontract – High-Voltage Switchgear LLC and XD came to an agreement about stage - by- stage localization of GIS (gas-insulated switchgear), LT and DT circuit breakers in Russia. JSC IDGC Holding is going, in its turn, to provide technological consulting related to production localization and further upgrading of electrical grid equipment with regard to perspective world trends and dynamics of development of the unified engineering policy of the electrical grid in Russia.
As befits business partners, Russian and Chinese specialists moved from negotiations and consultations to practical realization of the achieved agreements. Moreover, the staff of Eurocontract – High-Voltage Switchgear LLC has long-term experience of cooperation with the leading European countries in adaptation of 110-220 kV switchgear manufacturing process to the Russian conditions.
The partner’s competence benefits the results of work: in April of this year an adapted 110kV DT circuit breaker passed the climatic test and worked in a standard way at a temperature of -60 degrees Celsius. The test took place in Khikhari, the State Testing Centre, where the experts from Energy Research and Development Centre were present and approved of the program.
The specifications of the localized equipment were discussed at the meeting of Non-profit Partnership Scientific and Technical Council STC UES. Favorable conclusion was received. As advised by Eurocontract – High-Voltage Switchgear, LLC at the end of last year JSC IDGC Holding approved of the specifications for 110kV GIS. SKD assembly of 110kV GIS with further serial production was arranged by Eurocontract – High-Voltage Switchgear LLC in Balashikha, Moscow Region.
From May 11 till May 15, successful acceptance test of production prototypes of three types of equipment took place there. They were:
- 110 kV LT circuit breaker,
- 110 kV DT circuit breaker,
- 110kV GIS.
The tests were attended by experts from Electrical Energy Research and Development Centre OJSC, FGC UES OJSC, JSC IDGC Holding.
The relevant certificates were issued for this type of equipment by Electrical Energy Research and Development Centre OJSC.
The Odintsovo 110 kV substation, Moscow United Power Grid Company OJSC is going to be the first distribution electrical grid facility where starting this year this switching gear produced in Russia is going to be used.
“We value reliable partnership relations with Russia. Electric power industry is a strategic industry for any country, therefore its systems, equipment and services should meet international standards. The equipment of our company is innovative and hi-tech which is going to be produced in Balashikha”, said after signing the agreement Yang Baolin, Vice President of China XD Electric Co., Ltd. Thus, the historical event of installation of SKD assembly of 110kV GIS accompanied by serial production of equipment at the production site in Balashikha is going to be confirmed.

- Our trilateral cooperation is beneficial for each Party, - emphasized Nikolay Shvets, General Director of JSC IDGC Holding. – Hi-tech production of the state-of-the-art equipment in the world covering the needs of the distribution power grid complex in Russia located in the centre of the country will accelerate modernization programs, allow saving considerable amount of money due to competitive and fair pricing, optimizing production, logistic and service operations on the basis of one Russian competence centre, - assures Nikolay Shvets.
- The project implementation philosophy provides the launch of qualitative products with a competitive price on the Russian market. The level of competence and motivation of the technological partners guarantees appropriate chronology of this process implementation.
The fact of establishing long-term mutually beneficial cooperation between the companies in Russia and the People's Republic of China in the electrical engineering industry is a significant event. This implies integration of partners’ innovative potential, access to the Russian domestic market and creating pre-conditions for development of hi-tech companies showing operational excellence. There is another important aspect of cooperation, i.e. creating conditions for providing qualitative and system support services with regard to electrical equipment in operation. The parties reached an agreement for future technological refinement of localized products, including the use of Smart Grid technologies.
On behalf of Eurocontract - High-Voltage Switchgear LLC the trilateral agreement was signed by Andrey Zenzin, General Director. The agreement will be effective within five years and may be prolonged.