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64 missing feared dead in Russia dam blast
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-18 23:05
The accident also produced an oil slick that by Tuesday stretched over 50 miles (80 kilometers) downriver. Crews were struggling to stop it but so far had not. RusHydro said a faulty turbine at the plant, which began operating in 1978, was likely to blame. Investigators believe the accident occurred after a defective lid of one of the plant's 10 turbines got torn off during repair work, Vishnyakova, the RusHydro spokeswoman, told the AP.
RusHydro said replacing the damaged equipment at the plant may take up to two years but the undamaged turbines could be put back into operation in as soon as a month. Shoigu said the repairs would be difficult. "We're probably talking about years rather than months to restore three of the 10 turbines," he said on state-run television. More than 70 percent of all energy from the Sayano-Shushenskaya goes to four Siberian smelters of Rusal, the world's largest aluminum producer. Rusal reported Monday that it was operating as usual with smelters being powered from other plants. Analysts said the lack of energy from the Sayano-Shushenskaya did not pose immediate risks for Rusal, but could seriously impede its development if the metals market picks up next year. Aging infrastructure has long been regarded as a key obstacle to Russia's development. Analysts have warned that Russia needs to boost its power production significantly to meet the growing demand of industrial producers or it would face regular power shortages in the next several years. Monday's accident put these plans in jeopardy. RusHydro said each bereaved family would receive 1 million rubles ($31,300) in compensation for their loss. The 12 dead workers are to be buried on Wednesday and Thursday. Trading in RusHydro's shares at two Russian stock exchanges remained halted on Tuesday although the company said it could resume on Wednesday.
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