The preparation of the energy systems of the CIS member states for the cold season and the measures that can be taken to overcome the consequences of the world financial crisis in the electric energy sector were the major problems discussed at the 36th meeting of the Executive Committee of the CIS Electric Energy Council held in Chisinau last Saturday, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Council’s chairman Sergey Shmatko, the Minister of Energy of Russia, said that the cumulative energy system of the CIS has a capacity of over 322 million kW and includes 200,000 km-long electric power lines, being the second by size after the energy system of the EU. He also said that the power production in the CIS has decreased this year as a result of the world financial crisis. The reduction in Russia for example constituted 63%. Therefore, the CIS must consider measures to overcome the consequences of the crisis. Shmatko stressed that all the participating countries are open to dialogue. “This fact is very important as the agreement on the ensuring of parallel functioning of CIS countries’ energy systems is to be reviewed. We consider that the agreement must be adapted to the present conditions. We have a series of proposals as regards the provision of services for regulating the energy system as now only Russia is responsible for them. There are certain problems as regards the delimitation of the interstate electric power lines. In general, as my colleagues confirmed in their speeches, the CIS counties have prepared rather well for the cold season of the year,” Shmatko said. According to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Valeriu Lazar, the Electric Energy Council has proved its efficiency in the CIS. As the meeting of the Executive Committee of the CIS Electric Energy Council is held in Chisinau, Moldova can present its investment opportunities to the attending CIS energy specialists and managers of large energy companies, he stated. “We experience a shortage of offers in this area and we must use all the possibilities to attract investments to increase the power generation capacities and develop the power transportation infrastructure. It does not matter where the investments come from - Russia, Ukraine or any other country. We will have a correct behavior towards all the investors, will formulate predictable government policies on energy and will work to improve the investment climate,” Lazar said. The Executive Committee of the CIS Electric Energy Council has held meetings two times a year since 1992. It aims to create partnership and cooperation relations between the CIS member states in the electric energy sector.