The Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation plans to seek partial reimbursement from energy companies that fall behind in upgrading their power equipment. This development was reported by Interfax, citing comments from deputy head Pavel Snikkars. In essence, the ministry is looking to recover a portion of revenue that the state misses when modernization projects lag behind schedule. The move signals a shift toward holding participants accountable for delays in capital renewal that can affect national energy security and market stability.
According to the ministry, a settlement has been reached with the producing companies to cover 35-45 percent of the estimated state losses tied to the delays in modernization. The official clarified that this is not a contractual fine, but a form of compensation for lost income from selling capacity in competitive auctions. Snikkars noted that the aggregate impact of the postponements amounts to about 1.5 gigawatts of capacity. This figure highlights the scale of the disruptions and the potential implications for future tendering processes and grid reliability.
The delays touch six major projects, collectively nearing 2 gigawatts of capacity. The postponements are largely linked to challenges in obtaining essential equipment and components, underscoring vulnerabilities in the supply chain that can ripple through project timelines and tariff forecasts. Earlier warnings from the System Operator warned that shortages could jeopardize the timely completion of key facilities, adding pressure on policy makers and market participants to accelerate procurement and logistics solutions.
Back in 2022, the Market Council approved a one-year postponement of commissioning without penalties. The ministry, however, is pushing for compensation as a means to deter future delays and to ensure that participants contribute to the costs associated with delayed capacity that would have supported market expansion. The broader modernization program envisions upgrading around 40 GW of capacity and is expected to be supported by consumer payments, aligning incentives for timely delivery with long-term system reliability and competitiveness.
The discussion around systemic measures gained momentum toward the end of September, when preparations pointed to the Council of Ministers announcing new policy steps for the fuel market. These steps are anticipated to address not only modernization timelines but also how fuel-market dynamics interact with energy projects, pricing, and supply security for consumers across the country. The ministry’s ongoing focus on reforms reflects an effort to balance modernization ambitions with the realities of global supply chains and domestic market conditions.
In related developments, there were earlier statements from the Ministry regarding the timing of potential restrictions on fuel exports from Russia. The evolving policy environment underscores the government’s intent to align energy export policies with internal modernization goals, market health, and strategic reserves. As these policies unfold, industry players and stakeholders are watching closely to understand how compensation mechanisms, procurement practices, and capacity development plans will influence project delivery, investment decisions, and the overall trajectory of the energy sector in the near term.