Overview
Southern Kuzbass Power Plant is a 554 MW coal-fired power station in Russia, operated by OAO Yuzhno-Kuzbasskaya GRES. It supplies electricity to the Kemerovo region.
Southern Kuzbass Power Plant, also known as Yuzhno-Kuzbasskaya GRES, is a coal-fired power generation facility located in the Kemerovo Oblast of Russia. With a capacity of 554 MW, it is a medium-to-large scale plant within the Russian power sector, contributing to the region's industrial and residential electricity supply. The plant operates on coal as its primary fuel, a common choice in Russia's energy mix due to abundant domestic coal reserves. The facility's technology is typical of older Soviet-era designs, though it may have undergone modernization to improve efficiency and emissions control. Russia's power generation sector is regulated under national environmental standards, including emission limits for SOx, NOx, and particulates, aligned with the country's commitments under the Paris Agreement. As a key asset in the Kuzbass coal basin, the plant supports local industry and communities. Its location in a coal-rich area underscores its role in regional energy security. The plant's operational status and capacity make it a significant contributor to the Unified Energy System of Russia, serving both base-load and peak demand requirements.
Environmental context
The plant's coal combustion releases CO2, SOx, NOx, and particulate matter, contributing to local air quality concerns, especially given its location in an industrial region. Proximity to populated areas may increase exposure to emissions. The facility's age and technology influence its environmental footprint, with older subcritical units typically having lower efficiency and higher emissions per MWh compared to modern supercritical or CCGT plants. Regulatory oversight under Russian environmental law aims to mitigate these impacts through emission standards and monitoring.
Frequently asked questions
Southern Kuzbass Power Plant is located in the Kemerovo Oblast of Russia, near the town of Kaltan. Its coordinates are approximately 53.5119 N, 87.2669 E.
The plant has a capacity of 554 megawatts (MW), making it a medium-to-large coal-fired power station in Russia.
The plant is owned and operated by OAO Yuzhno-Kuzbasskaya GRES, a Russian power generation company.
Coal power plants in Russia must comply with national emission standards for pollutants such as SOx, NOx, and particulates, as well as greenhouse gas reporting requirements under the Paris Agreement.
The primary fuel is coal, sourced from the Kuzbass coal basin, which is one of the largest coal-producing regions in Russia.