"Without state support, without preferences in the domestic market, which is key for us, we simply can not survive," said Alexey Mordashov, chairman of the board of directors, co-owner of Power Machines, on April 12. Since 2015, "Power Machines" are operating at a loss, in 2017 it was $ 167.5 million. In January, "Power Machines" were included in the list of companies for which US sanctions were introduced. As an option, Mordashov considers the company's production of gas turbines of medium and high power, it follows from his words: "The famous history of gas turbines [Siemens supplied to the Crimea] once again emphasizes that Russia needs its own technology. "Power Machines" are ready to commit themselves to making such a technology "(quoted by Interfax).
But its own funds for this company is not enough, so it needs a public-private partnership, he added. The company is ready to take on half of the costs for such a project.
Support for "Power Machines" will be needed not only at the stage of development of technology. "We ask you to help us and introduce special preferences in the Russian market," Mordashov said.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade earlier reported that for the purpose of import substitution the issue of mastering the production of a wide range of turbines at the sites of Power Machines is being considered. Representatives of Power Machines and the Ministry of Industry and Trade refused to comment.
The main, and for high-capacity turbines, the only consumer are energy-generating companies, says Natalia Porokhova, head of the ACRA research and forecasting group. Over the past seven years, gas turbines with a total capacity of about 13 GW have been delivered to the Russian market during the capacity supply agreements (DPM) program. "Siemens has become the main beneficiary of this program with regard to gas turbines," Porokhova said.
Approximately 80% of the world market of gas turbines is occupied by German Siemens and American General Electric. In the Russian market, the German concern traditionally has a much stronger position. But even with this in mind, the company recently concluded contracts for the supply of only four turbines - two units for the Grozny TPP of Gazprom, two more plants will supply for the construction of a power plant in Tatarstan. "Now the PDM program is almost completely completed, the equipment for it has already been contracted for a long time. In the moment, the market of gas turbines in Russia is about zero, "explains Porokhova.
However, as early as 2020, the demand for gas turbines in Russia can grow dramatically if a new program for upgrading TPPs is introduced. "In the inputs of gas thermal power plants there was a great cyclicity, the peak of their launch occurred in the 70-80s. Then a pause began, and now it's time to either close this equipment, or modernize. Russia will become the world's largest market for gas generation equipment - 40 GW thermal power plants are expected to be modernized within 15 years. Demand for equipment for gas generation can reach 24 GW for these 15 years, "- says Porokhova. The cost of gas turbines alone, if they are combined-cycle plants, could amount to $ 12 billion, she said.
Power Machines already had experience in producing high-capacity gas turbines. The licensed equipment was assembled at a joint venture with the same Siemens. "But in fact, Russian specialists were engaged in technical work. Neither the drawings, nor technology, nor the know-how of the German company, the partners did not transfer. In the development of its technology, the experience of the JV "Power Machines" will not help, "said Vedomosti, an interviewee close to a large machine-building company. Creation and access to industrial production of a large turbine from scratch can take up to 10 years, he knows.
Power Machines had a pilot development of a 65 MW turbine (GTE-65 of the 2004 model). In 2011, such a facility was even put into operation at CHP-9 of Mosenergo. But in 2012 the experimental turbine was dismantled, replacing it with the Italian analog of the Ansaldo production. Will that experience speed up the process of developing turbines that can replace the equipment of Siemens or General Electric in the most demanded power range of 160-180 MW, the question is controversial, Vedomosti interlocutor believes.