Recent reports from "Rosseti Siberia" highlight a critical issue in the Siberian regions of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Khakassia, and Omsk Oblast: illegal mining activities are significantly contributing to emergency power outages, especially during freezing weather. The power company identified the continuous 24/7 energy consumption by illegal mining farms as a primary cause of these disruptions, leading to voltage spikes and emergency shutdowns, according to <a href="https://www.rbc.ru/crypto/news/65b0c8f59a7947026d099757" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">RBC</a>.
In 2023, Rosseti employees shut down 17 illegal mining farms in these regions, with the total damage exceeding 60 million rubles. The largest incident involved a theft of electricity worth 39.3 million rubles in Krasnoyarsk. Other cases in Khakassia and Omsk Region also contributed significantly to the total damage.
The problem lies not in mining itself but in the illegal connections to the power grid. Typically, these illegal operations connect as ordinary homeowners, setting up mining devices in garages, outbuildings, and basements of residential buildings. This not only strains the power grid but also involves theft, as miners often pay bills at rates meant for individuals, not industrial operations.
Rosseti Siberia suggests introducing a differentiated electricity tariff as a solution. This approach would mean paying for energy based on the volume of consumption, potentially improving power supply reliability and discouraging illegal mining activities.
Additionally, the Governor of the <a href="https://ultramining.com/news/en/irkutsk-region-busts-1-000-illegal-crypto-miners-in-a-year-fires-a-major-concern/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Irkutsk</a> Region, Igor Kobzev, has called for more active regulation of mining due to its impact on the power supply system and the regional budget. Many miners operate in a grey zone, resulting in significant underpayments of tax revenues.

Illegal Mining Activities Cause Power Grid Failures in Siberia

Ultramining_Eng

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