Siberian republic, Russian energy giant reach compromise over power plant row

Abakan -- - The government of Khakassia and the management of the Unified Energy System of Russia [UES] have agreed on how to resolve a conflict that arose after an attempt to review the results of the privatization of the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power plant and to change its legal address.

Chairman of the Khakassian government Aleksey Lebed has held meetings in Moscow with Economic Development and Growth Minister German Gref, UES chairman Anatoliy Chubays and the head of the Bazovyy Element company, Oleg Deripaska, the head of the Khakassian government's press service, Yelena Kobets, has said.

As a result, a compromise was reached. Khakassia gave up its demands to cancel the results of the power plant's privatization and restore its assets to federal ownership. For their part, the company's shareholders will reconsider their decision to change the power plant's legal address. Previously, it was proposed that as of 1 January 2005 the power plant will be registered in Krasnoyarsk Territory, in which case Khakassia would have lost one-fifth of its tax revenues.

In addition, Khakassia was provided with guarantees that a rise in energy tariffs in the republic would be carried out "smoothly and less painfully that in other Russian regions".

The parties also reached an agreement on the so-called "pool arrangement" related to the distribution of "the water tax" between Khakassia, Tyva and Krasnoyarsk Territory.