Irkutskenergo : EuroSibEnergo and Irkutsk National Research Technical University conclude a cooperation agreement

EuroSibEnergo, Russia's largest private power company, and Irkutsk National Research Technical University (INRTU) have signed a cooperation agreement until 2021. The document has been signed by the CEO of EuroSibEnergo Vyacheslav Solomin and the acting rector of INRTU Alexander Afanasyev.

Under the agreement, EuroSibEnergo and INRTU will develop joint educational programs for students of the University that would fully meet the current needs of the energy industry. EuroSibEnergo will launch its own grant and scholarship program for the most talented undergraduates and postgraduate students of INRTU studying the relevant disciplines; in addition, undergraduates and postgraduate students of the University will do an internship at EuroSibEnergo's energy enterprises in the Irkutsk Region and other regions of Siberia.

Another area of cooperation between EuroSibEnergo and INRTU will involve joint research into emerging technologies for the development of the power industry. High-priority projects include introduction of Smart Grid technologies in the energy system of Irkutsk, the use of composite materials in the construction of electricity grids, unmanned technologies for grid maintenance and operation, and comprehensive diagnostic evaluation of equipment at power plants in order to prevent accidents. Another important area of joint research is the development of coal chemistry technologies as a basis for alternative uses of coal.

'Irkutsk National Research Technical University ranks among the best technical universities in Russia. Over the past decade, companies forming part of EuroSibEnergo have been successfully cooperating with INRTU, and we are happy to expand the scope of our partnership. The energy industry is changing rapidly; new power generation, transmission and distribution technologies are developing. I am convinced that if we combine research capabilities of INRTU and practical experience and resources of EuroSibEnergo, we will be succeed in accomplishing a large number of tasks that will shape the power industry of the future,' commented Vyacheslav Solomin, CEO of EuroSibEnergo.

'Strategic partnership with Russia's largest private power company offers us a unique opportunity to understand current practical requirements for the quality of training of specialists for the economy of the future and to make practical use of extensive research capabilities of our university. I believe that expansion of the scope of our partnership and implementation of joint development programs will enable INRTU to strengthen its position in the sphere of research and education,' said Alexander Afanasyev, acting rector of INRTU.

Background information:

JSC EuroSibEnergo (www.eurosib.ru) is Russia's largest private power company and one of the country's leaders in green power generation. EuroSibEnergo operates power plants with a total installed capacity of 19.5 GW, including major HPPs forming part of the Angara-Yenisei HPP Cascade (the Krasnoyarskaya, Bratskaya, Ust-Ilimskaya and Irkutskaya HPPs) with a total capacity exceeding 15 GW. In December 2015, EuroSibEnergo put into operation the Abakanskaya solar power plant, which is one of Siberia's largest power plants.

EuroSibEnergo accounts for about 8% of Russia's electricity production. The Company forms part of En+ Group, a leading Russia-based industrial group.

Irkutsk National Research Technical University (http://www.istu.edu/) is one of Russia's largest technical universities; it was founded in 1930. Over 17,000 students study at INRTU for a degree in 98 areas of specialization (78 Bachelor's degree programs, 15 specialist degree programs, 57 Master's degree programs, 67 postgraduate degree programs and 15 secondary vocational education programs). The university comprises ten institutes, seven faculties, two technical schools and one college.

June 08, 2016