At a glance
- Category IV reliability, introduced in February 2026, lets the grid cut supply without limits on frequency or duration and sets no guaranteed restoration deadline.
- For an allocator underwriting a mining-linked data center in Russia, diligence now turns to outage terms: no restoration deadline and no limit on interruption frequency or duration.
- Applications that fail the technical conditions or fall in territories where a ban also covers Category IV mining are cancelled.
Russia requires new cryptocurrency mining grid connections to use an interruptible power category under Resolution No. 1300, dated Oct. 6 and in force since Oct. 9, Data Center Dynamics reported.
Category IV reliability, introduced in February 2026, lets the grid cut supply without limits on frequency or duration and sets no guaranteed restoration deadline. Russia's Energy Ministry said the measure is meant to keep mining demand from creating electricity and capacity shortages for other consumers, according to PRIME.
For an allocator underwriting a mining-linked data center in Russia, diligence now turns to outage terms: no restoration deadline and no limit on interruption frequency or duration. Where a region exempts Category IV mining, curtailment comes ahead of other Category IV consumers during specified maintenance and emergency restrictions.
Applications that fail the technical conditions or fall in territories where a ban also covers Category IV mining are cancelled. Connection fees are settled against costs the grid company has already incurred, so withdrawal does not necessarily mean a full refund.
The threshold is a maximum load above 5MW at the connection point, counting equipment already connected there, with supply at 6kV or higher from switchgear rated 110kV or above. The resolution also drops the requirement for a separate external power-supply scheme for permanent Category IV connections.
DCD reported in September that Russia banned mining in Moscow, the surrounding region and parts of Kursk through the end of 2032. Russia's digital development ministry has been weighing AI data center sites in Belarus and Kazakhstan amid power constraints, as Private Wealth Daily previously reported.
New mining connections were pushed onto interruptible power
Key dates for Category IV reliability and Resolution No. 1300
- Feb 2026Category IV reliability category introduced (Completed)
- Oct 6Resolution No. 1300 dated (Completed)
- Oct 9Rules in force for new mining connections (Current stage)
Show as table
| Date | Event | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | Category IV reliability category introduced | |
| Oct 6 | Resolution No. 1300 dated | |
| Oct 9 | Rules in force for new mining connections |
Reported by the Data centers & fiber desk from Data Center Dynamics. Published . Corrections