RUSSIA has expressed willingness to help develop energy resources in Mindanao.
In an interview with SunStar Davao, Russian Federation ambassador Igor A. Khovaev said Russia, an energy superpower country, is open to sharing their knowledge, skills, and technology in developing the power industry here.
“We are ready to help you to increase the production of electricity, and it will contribute to the competitiveness of your country. We have a lot to offer and we are ready to share our technologies, our skills, we are ready to supply our equipment. We are ready to offer, relevant, convenient, energy solutions,” said Khovaev.
“So we are ready to cooperate with you in building different power plants, gas-based, coal-based, oil-based, hydropower plants and we are ready to help you nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” he added.
As to the building of nuclear power plants, he said it is up for the Filipinos to decide.
“I would like to tell you unequivocally, it is up to you Filipinos to decide whether you need nuclear power plants or not. It is up to you. If you decide that you need nuclear power plants, we are ready to help you with the construction of very small powerplants,” he said.
He said that Russian nuclear technology is the most reliable and the safest one because we built nuclear plants in about 25 countries.
“Everything is being done in full compliance with international law. What we offer is the most reliable, most efficient, and the safest nuclear technology,” he said.
Meanwhile, Khovaev said while Russia is paying special attention to Davao City, it also welcomes other business opportunities in other provinces.
“We should identify a few areas, not all of them, and we will concentrate our attention on all of that in order to be successful,” he said.
On Wednesday, Khovaev introduced the executives of a huge energy company InteRAO with Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
The executives of the energy company presented their services to the mayor and expressed their desire to invest in power in the city.