The Problems and Prospects of Energy Development in Buryatia

ABSTRACT The article analyzes the electric power industry of the Republic of Buryatia and discusses its main problems. The solution of these problems determines the key objectives of the industry’s further development. Several environment problems and the efficiency of the energy system are considered in relation to the protection of Lake Baikal. It is necessary to develop and implement new programs to update existing power plants and to reconstruct the electricity and heating grids to improve the energy security of the republic. The capacity of the Ulan-Ude Central Heating Power Plant-2 should be commissioned to increase the efficiency of the energy system and to improve Ulan Ude’s municipal development. The article specifies the amount and capacity of electric power needed to supply heating for the Central Ecological Zone of the Baikal Natural Territory. Reasons are given for why the water level of Lake Baikal needs to be regulated via an environmentally sound approach, which concerns the entire electric power industry of the Baikal region. This is important for the projected growth of the energy systems of the Baikal region and for amending the laws governing how water is used by the Angarsk cascade of hydroelectric power plants. Instead of building hydroelectric power plants in the Selenga River basin, an alternative scheme for supplying electricity to Mongolia is considered via the surplus electricity of the Gusinoozersk State District Power Plant. The construction of the Moksk Hydroelectric Power Plant is considered as a means of supplying energy to the North Baikal region.