What is your role in the company and how long have you held this position?
I have been heading up the business development and marketing department within the Energy Sector for Russia Central Asia for 3 years
Siemens have a vast portfolio of power generation solutions, but what is your current technology focus for 2011?
We focus on the energy sector as a whole, from oil and gas drilling, mid & downstream technologies, power generation and also transmission and distribution. To highlight one specific area we are focusing on is quite difficult, however CHP plants both for municipalities and for use in the oil and gas powergen are an important sector for us at present. Within the distribution business I would point out the implementation of smart grids in Russia
With our products and solutions we are able to not only meter the power consumption but also to identify power losses in the grid, and therefore to analyze and to optimize the grid.
In terms of renewables, are you seeing much activity outside of the hydro sector?
Yes of course, Wind and small hydro is a very promising. We haven’t announced the strategic cooperation with RusHydro for the wind market just for the benefit of the public! Together with Rostechnologii we are developing solutions for the growing wind market in Russia. According to the Russian government the wind market will grow to up to 4,5 Gigawatts between now and 2020. Planned and current projects prove that this plan is on target. Small hydro, especially in the Southern area, is securing the economical development in this region to provide ecofriendly energy.
Are you planning any technology launches this year?
This year we are opening several facilities in Russia, our power transformer factory in Voronezh is planned to start operation at the end of this year. Indeed, we are already working on the first orders for this. The 1st factory in Voronezh will produce mainly circuit breakers and disconnectors. It is large enough that we will also use it for our latest GIS technology at a later stage. Besides ramping up our production facilities, we are also increasing our engineering capacity along the entire energy conversion chain to get closer to our customers. Last but not least, it is important not to forget that Siemens Energy already has around 500 employees in Russia.
In terms of investment, the power distribution network of Russia is, for Siemens, one of the most promising areas. We have a full range of solutions for this sector, including Smart Grid technology. We are hoping to become a key technology partner in modernization the grids.
There have been some good announcements recently with regards to your regional development, but what is your most recent success?
We have managed to navigate the crisis without any layoffs, and in addition we have used the time to check and rethink our strategy. Recently, we have supported the Russian government with our energy efficiency study for Ekaterinburg, where we are currently seeing the first results in small power plants. We are also in strategic working groups with FSK for grid modernization and have ramped up our assembly line for medium voltage switchgear close to Moscow. Since the opening last year, we have been manufacturing and delivering equipment of the highest quality, on time.
On a personal level, what do you like best about Moscow?
In Moscow there are a lot of places to go if you are interested in cultural activities. I personally prefer places where you can listen to good music. My wife and I really like to go to the Bolshoi Theater or to see one of the various musicals. We often walk on the Vorobjevy Gori, from where you can enjoy one of the best views over Moscow. Also pleasantly surprising is Danilovskiy Market, where I have never seen such a wide array of fresh vegetables!
Do you enjoy any sports or hobbies?
Yes, I do. My slogan for life is “sport is my lifestyle”. Jogging and Volleyball are some of my favorite type of sports. And of course, I love to travel. I have recently been to Namibia, which is a very beautiful and extraordinary country.
And finally, with huge investments going into most areas of power generation – what is your forecast for the coming years?
The main trend in Russia is the nuclear renaissance. In addition however, we see ongoing investments in CCPP technology, in improving energy efficiency in power and heating systems as well as the reduction of power losses in the grid. Our green portfolio has many solutions to these problems, with Siemens is the world’s largest supplier of green technology and this know how is available in Russia to support the investments in this interesting country.
