RUSSIAN FEDERATION: Water Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2020 (Government Decree No. 1235-r of 2009) (2012 Ed.)

Meta Data
Title in national language: 
Водная стратегия Российской Федерации на период до 2020 года (утв. Распоряжением Правительства РФ от 27.08.2009 года № 1235-р) (с изм. от 17.04.2012 г.)
Draft: 
No
Revision of previous policy?: 
No
Draft Year: 
2009
Effective Start Year: 
2012
Effective End Year: 
2020
Scope: 
National
Document Type: 
Plan/Strategy
Economic Sector: 
Multi-Sector, Other
Energy Types: 
Renewable, Hydropower, Other
Issued by: 
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation
Notes: 
No English translation available
Source: 
Regulatory database 'Techexpert' (RU)
File: 
Government Decree No. 1235-r of 2009 (2012 Ed.) (RU)
Overall Summary: 
The policy is a strategic document setting forth a robust framework for the management of water resources in the Russian Federation. Laying out deep sectoral reform agenda designed to enhance efficiency of national water management systems, the policy seeks to promote environmental protection focusing, in particular, on the climate-energy–water nexus. The Water Strategy of the Russian Federation came into force pursuant to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation N 1235-r of 27 August 2009.
Environment
Energy environmental priorities: 
The Russian Federation has great climate change mitigation potential. Regulatory efforts will thereby focus on the development of assessment and long-term forecast mechanisms with a view to prevent climate change and natural calamities. --- It is crucial to develop complex environmental risk management systems, including hydrometeorology institutions and organizations (e.g., the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring). --- Chapter V. The document represents a prudential approach to accomplishing the objectives of sustainable development. Improvement of water efficiency will generate significant gains, including strengthened food, industrial and energy security. Mainstreaming environment into Russia’s agenda on water is another priority area given due consideration in the chapter.
Energy-water nexus: 
Art.1. Priority is given to harnessing the potential of Russia’s hydropower resources for diversifying national energy mix and, in a broader sense, speeding up economic growth. The Strategy makes an assessment of hydropower potential of Siberia and the Far East Region, stresses that additional hydropower generation capacities will get exploited in the European part of the Russian Federation (the Cheboksary and Nizkekamsk Water Reservoirs). The policy envisages an increase in capacities of pump storage plants, scaling up small and medium hydropower projects. --- The issue of water resources scarcity is brought to the fore in the context of vulnerabilities existing in the water sector of the Russian Federation. In response to emerging and persistent issues, the policy forges an integrated approach to the management of water and energy resources. Policy action will be essential to provide comprehensive responses to the most acute issues in the energy-water nexus, pertaining in particular to loss of hydropower (the Volzhsko-Kamsky Cascade). --- Chapter II. The policy lays the foundation for potential future efforts on improving the national system of water management, considering the importance of water resources for heating and nuclear power generation (37 percent of the total water resources). --- Chapter III art.1. It is critical to ensure that sufficient water resources are made available for the needs of energy and agricultural sectors, as well as for the purposes of industrial development. Estimates provided by the Concept of Long-term Economic and Social Development until 2020 show that demand for water resources is expected to reach 90 – 100 cubic km.---Art. 3. The Strategy calls for implementation of a comprehensive program of work to ensure safety and security of hydropower generation facilities, putting in place measures to provide appropriate responses to natural disasters, specifically floods, and to maintain effective natural disaster response capabilities.
Cooperation in env.: 
Proactive multilateral cooperation will be carried out for protection and use of transboundary waters.
Energy Supply and Infrastructure
Infrastructure development priorities: 
Chapter VII. Priorities for the development of infrastructure are: to increase safety of hydrotechnical facilities and installations, to reconstruct and modernize federal water objects, to ensure sustainability of water management practices and conformity with environmental norms.
Governance
National policy structure: 
Premised on the underlying principles stipulated in the Water Code of the Russian Federation (2006), the Strategy seeks to strengthen frameworks for the management of water resources, focusing in particular on the use and protection of water objects. It is underscored that an enabling environment (a complex array of policies, incentives and measures) has been created for efficient water management systems. Despite remarkable positive transformations observed in the sector over past several decades, evolving appropriate incentives and institutional frameworks will remain the area of concern. ----- In line with the Concept of Long-term Economic and Social Development until 2020, the Strategy - formulating the program of action on improving water management - fosters growth and development of national economy. ----- Aiming at the formulation of effective and coordinated policies, the Strategy reiterates the objectives of the National Clean Water Program.
Energy institutional structures: 
As provided by art. 2, the Government Decree N1235-r of 27 August 2009, federal agencies tasked with governing / regulating water resources in the Russian Federation related to implementation of the present Strategy include the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Regional Development, the Ministry of Transport, Energy Ministry of the Russian Federation, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Coordination with regional energy associations: 
Art. 4 ‘Improving Regulatory Frameworks on Water Management’. The Russian Federation will support regional integration strengthening mutual partnerships with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Eurasian Economic Commission.
M&E of policy implementation: 
Plan of Action, Art. VI: There’s a need for monitoring and evaluation of the Water Strategy implementation. The key role in strategy monitoring is entrusted to the Ministry of Environment of the Russian Federation required to undertake firm and long-term measures to put the concept designed in the policy document into practice.