2Q 2013 operating results

RusHydro increased electricity generation by 16%, generation from hydro - by 25% in the first half of 2013

JSC RusHydro (ticker symbol: MICEX-RTS, LSE: HYDR; OTCQX: RSHYY) announces the operating results for the 2^nd quarter and 1^st half of 2013.

Key highlights:

-       Strong quarterly operating performance of the hydropower plants in all 3 macro-regions of Russia on affluent water inflows;

-       In 3Q 2013, hydro production was up 19% in the Center of Russia, +15% in the South of Russia, +41% in Siberia, +21% in the Far East;

-       Fossil-fuel generation in the Far East is down 4% in 1H 2013, ousted by hydro;

-       In 1H 2013, 4 newly-commissioned hydro-units of Boguchanskaya hydropower plant in Siberia generated over 1.6 TWh of electricity;

-       In 1H 2013, RusHydro?s power retail companies decreased power output by 9%;

-       In 3Q 2013, water inflows to all major reservoirs are expected at long-run average levels.

 

In the 2^nd quarter of 2013, total electricity generation by power plants of RusHydro, its subsidiaries and the Boguchanskaya hydropower plant (HPP)^[1] amounted to 34,630 GWh, a 17% increase as compared to the 2^nd quarter of 2012; total power generation in the 1^st half of 2013 amounted to 66,633 GWh (+16%). In the 2^nd quarter of 2013, hydropower plants of RusHydro and the Boguchanskaya HPP increased electricity generation by 23% to 28,005 GWh, generation in the 1^st half of 2013 amounted to 50,303 GWh (+25%).

 

Electricity generation in 2Q and 1H 2013/2012, GWh

	2Q 2013	2Q 2012	chg, %	1H 2013	1H 2012	chg, %
Far East	3,675	3,037	21%	7,796	6,314	23%
Siberia	7,551	5,357	41%	14,173	10,965	29%
incl. Boguchanskaya HPP	824	-	-	1,623	-	-
Center of Russia	14,221	11,991	19%	24,271	19,616	24%
South of Russia and North Caucasus	2,368	2,066	15%	3,789	3,120	21%
Armenia	189	283	-33%	273	337	-19%
RAO ES of the East	6,625	6,836	-3%	16,330	17,025	-4%
TOTAL	34,630	29,569	17%	66,633	57,377	16%
TOTAL (excl. RAO ES of the East)	28,005	22,733	23%	50,303	40,351	25%

 

The underlying factors of the production change in the 2^nd quarter of 2013 were:

-       higher than average water resources in reservoirs in the Far East and Center of Russia;

-       water inflow to reservoirs of the Volga-Kama cascade higher than long-run average;

-       water inflow to major reservoirs of Siberia slightly higher or close to long-run average;

-       participation of conventional thermal power plants in automatic secondary regulation of frequency and active power flow instead of large storage-based hydropower stations from April 16 to June 11, 2013, that allowed Zhugulevskaya hydropower plant to operate in the base mode;

-       launch of the Boguchanskaya hydropower plant into commercial operation in the end of 2012.

 

Center of Russia

As of the end of the 1^st half of 2013, the useful storage of the Volgo-Kama cascade reservoirs amounted to 76.56 km³, 4% higher than long-run average and 1% lower than last year.

In the 1^st quarter of 2013, total water inflow to reservoirs of the Volga-Kama cascade amounted to 29 km³ as compared to the average of 21.3 km³. In the 2^nd quarter, water inflow to reservoirs of the cascade was higher than normal and amounted to 173 km³ compared to a long-run average of 161 km³.

From April 16 to June 11, 2013, for the first time in Russia?s history the System Operator engaged conventional thermal power plants in automatic secondary regulation of frequency and active power flow in the Unified Energy System, while earlier mostly large storage-based hydropower stations were responsible for this, as highly maneuverable sources of power generation. These measures allowed the Company?s Zhigulevskaya HPP to almost fully load its hydro units during the flood period, as well as to increase the electricity generation by ca. 150 GWh.

In the 3^rd quarter, water inflow to the major reservoirs of the Volgo-Kama cascade is expected to be close to normal, to the Rybinskiy, Gorkovskiy and Nizhnekamskiy reservoirs ? 20-35% lower than normal. Total water inflow to reservoirs of the Volgo-Kama cascade in the 3^rd quarter will amount to 30-38 km³, according to expectations, as compared to the average of 37 km³.

In the 2^nd quarter of 2013, total electricity generation by RusHydro?s hydropower plants of the Volgo-Kama cascade together with Zagorskaya pumped storage plant amounted to 14,221 GWh, 19% increase as compared to the same period of 2012. In the 1^st half of 2013 generation reached 24,271 GWh, 24% increase as compared to the same period of the previous year. 

Siberia

In the 2^nd quarter of 2013, water inflow to the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydropower plant reservoir was 10% higher than long-run average. As of the end of the 1^st half of the year, the reservoir level was 532 m, which is slightly below normal water level of 539 m. In the 3^rd quarter water inflow to reservoir is expected to be close or slightly higher than normal and substantially (over 50%) higher than last year.

In the 2^nd quarter of 2013, water inflow to the Novosibirsky reservoir was 5% higher than long-run average. As of the end of the 1^st half of the year, the reservoir level amounted to 113.27 m, which is slightly lower than normal, but the accumulation of water in the storage resumes.

Currently, the Boguchanskaya hydropower plant is operating under the regime of allowing the navigation in the downstream and maintaining the reservoir water level at 188.5 m.

Total electricity generation by RusHydro?s Siberian hydropower plants and the Boguchanskaya HPP in the 2^nd quarter of 2013 increased by 41% to 7,551 GWh, in the 1^st half of 2013 ? by 29% to 14,173 GWh.

South of Russia and North Caucasus

In the 2^nd quarter of 2013, water inflow to the Chirkeyskaya HPP on the Sulak river, Vladikavkazskaya HPP on the Terek river and Krasnodarskiy reservoir on the Kuban? river was 10-35% lower than normal.

In the 3^rd quarter water inflow to reservoirs is expected to be close to long-run average or 10-25% lower than normal.

The electricity generation by the hydropower plants of the South of Russia and North Caucasus in the 2^nd quarter of 2013 rose by 15% to 2,368 GWh; in the 1^st half of 2013 ? by 21% to 3,789 GWh.

Far East

In the 2^nd quarter of 2013, water inflow to the Kolymskiy and Zeyskiy reservoirs was higher than long-run average by 55-70%. In the end of May, the Bureyskaya HPP experienced the highest inflow to its dam on record starting from 2003, when the plant was built and put into operation. This was caused by heavy rains in May and melting of the snow packs. The plant had been operating in a drawdown mode to keep the reserve storage.

The total electricity generated by hydro and geothermal power plants of the Far East in the 2^nd quarter increased by 21% to 3,675 GWh, in the 1^st half of 2013 ? by 23% to 7,796 GWh.

The over-the-balance production by the Far Eastern hydropower plants (the balance set by the Federal Tariff Service of Russia) was 2,041 GWh and was a result of additional electricity supply to China, as well as lower production by thermal generators.

In the 2^nd quarter of 2013, the predominantly fossil fuel generation of RAO ES of the East, a subsidiary of RusHydro, produced 6,625 GWh of electricity, 3% decrease as compared to the 2^nd quarter of 2012. In the 1^st half of 2013, the generation decreased by 4% to 16,330 GWh.

Of this total, 74% (12,107 GWh) was generated by Far East Generating Company, which decreased production by 3.6% as compared to the last year, mainly due to increased capacity of hydropower plants. In the 1^st half of 2013 electricity generation by companies operating in isolated energy systems of the Far East amounted to 4,023 GWh, which is in line with the previous year. At the same time Magadanskaya and Chukotskaya energy systems increased electricity generation by 12%.

In the 1^st half of 2013, heat output by thermal plants of RAO ES of the East amounted to 19,238 GCal, a 1% increase as compared to the same period of last year.

Armenia

In the 2^nd quarter of 2013, electricity generation by the Sevan-Hrazdan cascade of hydropower plants in Armenia decreased by 33% to 189 GWh, in the 1^st half of the year ? by 19% to 273 GWh. The power generation by the plants of the cascade is dependent on water inflows of Hrazdan river and water releases from lake Sevan.

Power retail

In the 2^nd quarter of 2013, total electricity output by RusHydro?s four retail companies, operating in Bashkiria, Chuvashia, Ryazan and Krasnoyarsk regions, decreased by 6% to 9,100 GWh, in the 1^st half of the year ? by 9% to 20,876 GWh. Almost all retail companies experienced the decrease after several major industrial consumers switched to their own wholesale purchases following market liberalization. 

***

RusHydro Group operating results for the 2^nd quarter and 1^st half of 2013 are available on RusHydro?s website at: http://www.eng.rushydro.ru/investors/reports/

 

 

About RusHydro:

RusHydro Group is one of Russia?s largest generating companies. RusHydro is the leading producer of renewable energy in Russia with over 70 generating facilities in Russia and abroad. The company also manages a number of R&D, engineering and electricity retail companies. Group?s thermal assets are operated by subsidiary ? RAO Energy System of East in the Far East of Russia. Total electricity generation capacity of the Group is 36.5 GW, heat capacity ? 16.2 thousand GCal/h.

Russian Federation owns 67.1% in RusHydro, the rest is held by other institutional and individual shareholders (over 360,000). The company?s stock is traded on the MICEX and RTS stock exchanges, and included in MSCI EM ? MSCI Russia indexes. Company?s GDRs in the IOB section of LSE, ADRs ? in OTCQX.

 

For more information:

JSC RusHydro, Investor Relations Department

Tel. [phone] ext. 1319, 1607

[e-mail]

 

DISCLAIMER

The information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of RusHydro. One can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "will," "could," "may" or "might," the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially from these statements.

We do not intend to update these statements to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Many factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, general economic conditions, our competitive environment, risks associated with operating in Russia and rapid technological and market changes in our industries, as well as many other risks specifically related to RusHydro and its operations.

 

 

[1] The Boguchanskaya hydropower plant is part of the Boguchanskiy Energy and Metals Complex (BEMO), a 50/50 joint venture (JV) between RusHydro and UC RUSAL, and is not part of RusHydro Group. According to RusHydro?s shareholding in the JV (50%), the results of the plant are reported in the official financial statements in ?Share of results of associates and jointly controlled entities?. Operations of the HPP have been put into the press-release for general reference.