RUSSIAN HYDROELECTRIC PLANT ACCIDENT: LESSONS TO BE LEARNED

Operating Experience Committee - Products

On August 17, 2009, at the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydroelectric Plant, in Khakassia, Russia, a catastrophic "pressure surge" (i.e., water hammer) occurred in Turbine 2 (one of 10 turbines), ejecting the turbine and all its equipment (approximately 900 tons of material); flooding the engine and turbine room; severely damaging four other turbines; and causing a transformer explosion. The entire plant output (6,400 megawatts) was lost, leading to a widespread power failure in the area. As of September 9, 2009, there were 74 fatalities as a result of the accident, and 1 person was listed as missing, but presumed dead. The accident also resulted in an oil spill that released at least 40 tons of transformer oil into the Yenisei River, killing approximately 400 tons of cultivated trout in two riverside fisheries. Follow the hyperlink below to view a multi-slide presentation of the event, including numerous pictures, followed by pertinent lessons to be learned and a number of questions to be considered.