Moscow, 21 December 2005. Vladimir Avetisyan, member of the Management Board and Managing Director of RAO "UES of Russia", has received the Russian Government's Prize for Science and Technology.

Vladimir Avetisyan has been awarded the Prize together with employees of OAO "Samaraenergo" and group of academics form the All-Russian Heating Systems Institute of RAO "UES of Russia" for the development of a method for removing nitrogen oxides employing the Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) technology*.

This technology was first used at the Tolyattinskaya CHPP of OAO "Samaraenergo". The SNCR technology helps remove NOx from the plant's flue gases.

It is based on injection of ammonia into a boiler furnace in which pulverized coal is burned. This helps reduce NOx emissions in the flue gases by 70%. Unlike its foreign counterparts, the technology implemented at the Tolyattinskaya CHPP is both an effective and economical way of reducing hazardous emissions.

Professor Sergey Kapitsa, Vice President of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, commented on the implementation of the SNCR technology in the energy industry, "This is a real high technology based on the fundamental research of Russian academics. The combination of advanced management methods and high technology is an entirely new level of social responsibility at a large corporation."

According to Vladimir Avetisyan, the state prize is an honour for the entire research team involved in the development of the SNCR technology. "I would like to particularly acknowledge the contribution made by Albert Alfeev, the long-time Chief Engineer of the Tolyattinskaya CHPP, who initiated the project implementation", he said.

The SNCR technology is included in the concept of RAO UESR environmental policy, which will pave the way for the implementation of this technology at other energy enterprises.

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* The new SNCR technology helps remove nitrogen oxides contained in flue gases of plants burning any fuel. These hazardous substances react with water vapours and become the so-called acid rains.