The CMS Energy team in Moscow has gained in-depth knowledge of the sector advising on its restructuring since the inception of the reforms in 2000. Restructuring of the Russian power sector, upcoming privatisation of power generating assets and the urgent need to build new power stations opens the sector up for domestic and foreign private investors. Organisations considering investments in Russian energy can benefit from our detailed understanding of the domestic market combined with the best international practices.

Apart from advising on the restructuring of the electricity sector in Russia (including transition to a wholesale market due to be fully liberalised in 2011), we have been leading process of establishing mechanisms to attract private sector investments in green-field generation plants as well as creating joint ventures. The advice has been on all aspects of the electricity business, including, regulatory, project finance and wholesale trading arrangements.

The team has been engaged in a number of significant projects within the framework of restructuring and liberalisation of the Russian power sector. RAO UES of Russia (ceased operations in July 2008) used to be our primarily client but we also advised a number of its subsidiaries which are still active in the market and remain our current clients (including InterRAO, RusHydro and the Federal Grid Company).

The team has provided consultations on a number of issues relating to the liberalisation of the Russian power sector, including regulatory matters, attraction of investments, provision of economic consultations on grid capacity allocation, grid tariffs, bilateral agreements, transmission losses and electricity metering.

Key contact - Natalia Kozyrenko