CHERYOMUSHKI, August 17 (Itar-Tass) — Khakassia launched commemorative events on Wednesday, two years after a major crisis at the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power plant. A minute of silence was announced at 08:15, local time (when the accident occurred) in Cheryomushki, the village of HPP personnel and at the HPP itself.
A service then commenced at the Chapel in the Uisky cemetery, built by the first anniversary of the accident. A commemorative wall was put up in Cheryomushki’s central square. HPP personnel across the whole country will venerate the memory of their colleagues on Wednesday.
The HPP is due to complete repairs in 2014. It will require more than 45 billion rubles. Four units are already producing electricity, and another three sets of power generation equipment were brought to the HPP for assembly several days ago.
The HPP is now running at 40-percent capacity.
The issue of complex rebuilding of the whole Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP is under consideration. It envisions replacement of hydro-turbine equipment and construction of an extra water intake at the Mainskaya HPP. This will add another 100 megawatt to capacity. Assembly of new power equipment will begin in the autumn. The first new HPP hydroelectric generating set is due to go on line in December, while in March, a second one will be commissioned.