The Alrosa diamond producer based in Yakutia, Siberia has commissioned the first generating unit at the Svetlinskaya hydroelectric power plant, according to the Interfax news agency.
A total of four 90MW generating units will be installed at the Svetlinskaya plant, which will be able to generate up to 1.2BkWh of electricity a year. The second generating unit is to begin generating electricity in 2005, and the other two units will follow in 2007.
The Svetlinskaya plant will support the energy needs of an underground diamond mine in the town of Udachny and will also help cover a shortage of power in Yakutia’s towns, said Vyacheslav Shtyrov president of the Yakutian republic.