The electrical power industry of the Russian Federation based on the performance of thermal power stations (TPS) is the largest consumer of the Russian coals. Currently the long-term development program of the Russian coal industry for the period till 2030 is adopted. One of its purposes is increasing supply of the Russian coal for power industry in the domestic market.
The researchers dealing with the issues of power industry emphasize the drawbacks of the coal industry having negative influence on optimization of coal provision for thermal power stations of the Russian Federation. In particular, they distinguish such factors as monopolized coal markets in the regions, existing various principles of coal fuel pricing and etc.
One of the factors improving efficiency of fuel provision for the Russian thermal power stations is introducing competitive procedures in the process of fuel purchasing. There is a number of backgrounds and limitations of using this instrument for providing fuel supply optimization of Russian thermal power stations. Thus the main backgrounds can be distinguished as more increasing distribution of the competitive auction by making purchase of commercial organizations. It gives considerable effect in reducing price contract signed by the results of competitive procedures. The main restrictions are defined by heterogeneity of coal quality and noninterchangeability of coal types.
The paper considers providing power industry with coal supply from the point of view of prospects both for power stations and coal industry. Such issues as coal preparation and coal industry innovations are discussed. The conditions of competitive fuel supply development of thermal power plants are analyzed. The problems and prospects of thermal power stations activities are considered. The positive effects provided by organizing coal purchasing for thermal power plants with using competitive procedures, both at the level of enterprise and at the level of economy of the Russian Federation in general, are presented.