12 Dead, 64 Missing in Russian Hydropower Plant Accident

The death toll is expected to rise as it is unlikely that any more survivors will be found, Vasily Zubakin, acting chairman of the board of RusHydro company, owner of the generating station, said at the scene.

The Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydropower plant is the largest in Russia, fifth largest in the world. (Photo courtesy Sayano Shushenskaja GES)

RusHydro identified eight of the dead as employees of the power plant or employees of contractors operating at the site

The accident destroyed three of 10 generating units and part of the turbine room at the power station, located on the Yenisei River, near Sayanogorsk in Khakassia, Russia.

The 245 meter (800 foot) high gravity arch dam was not damaged in the incident RusHydro said. "No damage to the dam itself or its hydro-technical facilities have been identified," the company said.

At the scene Tuesday, Russian Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu confirmed that a hydraulic impact caused the accident, but said investigators have not determined what caused the hydraulic impact.

"The basic reason for emergency - hydroshock, but the reason for the hydroshock must be explained," he told reporters. It is too early to draw conclusions, he said.

The accident halted power generation, blacking out residential areas, and aluminum smelters in Sayanogorsk and Khakassia were cut off from the grid. Now alternate power sources have restored electricity to communities and smelters are operating a partial capacity.

There was no structural damage to the station and no danger that the dam would burst, the emergencies ministry confirmed in a statement. Minister Shoigu confirmed that there is no imminent danger of flooding to the downstream town of Cheryomushki.

Working under searchlights, with a diesel generator for electric power, about 1,200 rescuers are inspecting the half-submerged turbine room, looking for bodies and inspecting the structure for stability.

Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu (Photo courtesy Enercom)

"We are expecting a robot, which is able to work underwater, and three groups of divers are now working under the water," Shoigu said.

Emergency workers also are trying to contain an oil spill that hit the Yenisei River after the accident and now extends five kilometers downstream. Shoigu said the hydroshock caused the ejection of up to 50 tonnes of turbine oil.

Workers have placed oil spill defense booms on the river to contain the slick and protect the power station's water intake.

"The situation is under the control, an increase in the discharge of water is not planned," Shoigu said.

Once the turbine room has been dried, there will be a more extensive examination of damages as well as an investigation into the causes of the accident, RusHydro's Zubakin said.

Shoigu and Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko briefed President Dmitry Medvedev on the situation at the Sayano-Shushenskaya power plant about three hours after the incident and received instructions to provide all possible help to the families of those killed and injured in the accident.

At the scene, Chairman of the Khakassia government Victor Zemin said compensation payments to the families of those killed and missing will begin on Wednesday. "One million rubles will be given to the families of those killed and two-months worth of earnings to the families of those disappeared without news," he said.

The installed capacity of the Sayano-Sushenskaya hydropower plant is 6,400 MWt, with an average long-term production of approximately 24 billion KWt/year.

Copyright Environment News Service, ENS, 2009. All rights reserved.