May 28, 2021. Moscow,
Russia. PJSC
RusHydro (ticker symbol: MOEX, LSE: HYDR; OTCQX: RSHYY) announces
that the Company's Board of Directors approved RusHydro Group’s
development strategy until 2025 with outlook throughout 2035 at the
meeting on May 27, 2021.
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In the course of drafting the
document, the Company took into account both, the macroeconomic and
local environment, macroeconomic forecasts and the leading trends in
the global utilities sector among the key players.
The Strategy revolves around the
global transition to low carbon energy production and correlates with
Russia’s strategic initiatives in which RusHydro plays a vital role
in providing clean, reliable and affordable electricity.
The Strategy provides for on
reliable power supply and safe operations of power facilities,
sustainable development of electricity production with priority for
clean energy, development of power system of the Far East Federal
District and the Company’s value growth.
RusHydro Group focuses on
development and modernization of low-carbon electricity production
(currently 81.5% of the Company’s installed capacity) such as
hydropower facilities, small hydro, solar and wind power plants and
hybrid renewable energy sources for subsititution of obsolete diesel
power plants in the isolated zones. The Strategy sets the tareget for
reduction of direct greenhouse gases by 9% by 2035. The Group’s
installed capacity will surpass 40 GW.
The Far East is another growth
area for the Company and another key initiative outlined in the
Strategy. The Group will continue replacing outdated assets with
guaranteed return on investment such as construction of Artemovskaya
CHPP-2, Khabarovskaya CHPP-4, 2nd phase of Yakutskaya
GRES-2, modernization of Vladivostokskaya CHPP-2 and expansion of
Neryungrinskaya and Partizanskaya GRES. Further decarbonization will
take place by converting coal fired thermal power plants to natural
gas.
To improve the quality of heat
supply to the consumers, RusHydro plans to implement the model of
“alternative boiler” in the Far East region allowing to modernize
existing assets and decommission obsolete sources of heat supply to
reduce the heat loses up to 16%.
The Strategy also focuses on
further development of electric grids in the scope of the program on
development of the power sector for the rapid development of the Far
East Federal District. Increasing reliability and reduction of
accident rate remain the key focus points as well as further
consolidation of grid assets and reduction of grid losses up to 7.5%.
The Company’s fundamental value
growth through effective communication with investors, increasing
transparency and consistency of dividend distribution and focus on
key aspects of investment attractiveness is another area of
importance of the Strategy. The Company plans to utilize financial
instruments such as green financing and cooperation with development
funds and local banks to reduce the cost of borrowing. The Group’s
EBITDA is expected to increase more than twofold by 2035.
Growth will foster throughout
RusHydro’s entire business chain from engineering companies to
supply segment to development of EV charging network in the Far East,
where industrial tourism at power generating facilities is in the
plan.
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