Moscow, 13 February 2008. JSC INTER RAO UES provides an open educational allowance for students of sectoral higher education institutions in the Russian Federation. A contract to this effect was made in early February 2008 between JSC INTER RAO UES and Moscow Power-Engineering Institute (Technical University). For the Moscow Power-Engineering Institute, the contract was signed by its first deputy rector A.I. Popov; for JSC INTER RAO UES, by the company's Director General Evgeny Dod. The contract is concluded for a period of one year with the option of renewal for a further year by mutual agreement of the parties.

Beginning February 2008, ten best students of the Moscow Power-Engineering Institute will have their base study allowance supplemented on a monthly basis with a money reward from JSC INTER RAO UES, a flagship of Russia's power industry. The allowances are granted for a period of one semester based on the results of examination session. They are open to students enrolled for the following programmes: Electric Power Stations, Electrical Power Systems and Networks, Electric Power Supply, and Thermal Power Stations. The list of allowance nominees is put together by the Company's educational allowance commission based on the information on the progress and achievements of students in their studies and research activities, as provided by the Academic Board of higher education establishment.

The educational allowance scheme of JSC INTER RAO UES is an important thrust of the HR policy of the Company. What is especially valuable is that together with open allowances, MPEI students are granted the right of first refusal to fill vacancies at companies of INTER RAO UES Group upon graduation. The beneficiaries are also given an opportunity to undergo undergraduate training at INTER RAO UES companies, in the course of which they will be in a position to gain invaluable professional experience from the best experts in power engineering and learn practical skills at power engineering field facilities. The decision to provide allowances was made by JSC INTER RAO UES with the aim of supporting the most gifted students of sectoral higher education institutions in the RF and generating an inflow of young, enterprising and well-educated leaders for the Company.

Svetlana Yepikhina, head of Personnel Management Department of JSC INTER RAO UES Corporate Centre, commented on the objectives and targets that can be achieved in the course of implementing the Company's educational allowance programme: "JSC INTER RAO UES has always taken a socially proactive stance in addressing sectoral and regional problems in the area of human resources. Open study allowances are designed to provide social protection for the most gifted students at Russia's power-engineering schools, to help the beneficiaries make their career choices, to encourage them to learn professions needed by the electric power sector. Open study allowances give the company an opportunity to get to know young professionals while those are pursuing their undergraduate studies. When doing their trainee jobs and participating in creative work competitions, students are encouraged to apply themselves to the areas of research and practical skills that need innovative approaches and unconventional solutions to accomplish strategic objectives of Russia's power industry and those of our company, in particular. We expect that today’s power sector will provide the best launch pad site for Russia's young talent to start their careers in the near future!"

Moreover, corporate study allowances are expected to be provided starting 2009 for INTER RAO UES Group staff children enrolled at power-engineering schools. According to Svetlana Yepikhina, "corporate study allowances help the career development of the Group employees who are part of the personnel reserve, as well as guarantee social support for the children of the Group's staff. We encourage continuity of generations. If the children of our staff are willing to follow in the footsteps of their parents, this is the best guarantee of the preservation and transfer of expertise gained within our system."