Russia's largest hydropower operator, RusHydro, has started up the fifth hydropower unit at Siberia Sayano-Shushenskaya hydropower plant, a major stage in reconstruction of the power plant following a catastrophic accident in 2009 when 75 people were killed.
The launch ceremony was attended by prime minister Vladimir Putin who started up the unit by pressing a symbolic button. It will boost the plant's capacity to 6.4 GW from the current 2.6 GW.
The accident occurred at the plant on Siberia Yenisei River in August 2009, destroying a turbine hall in addition to 75 lives. The accident also destroyed three hydropower units and damaged the other seven. All repair works are expected to be completed by December 2014.
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