OREANDA-NEWS. October 23, 2012. UC RUSAL (SEHK: 486; Euronext: RUSAL/RUAL; Moscow Exchange: RUALR/RUALRS), the world’s largest aluminium producer, announces the first test launch of Boguchanskaya hydropower plant, a part of BEMO — joint project of UC RUSAL and RusHydro that includes the construction of a hydropower plant and an aluminium smelter. The hydroelectric plant has generated its first electricity, after two 333 MW units were put into test operation during an launch ceremony held by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow via videoconference.

The two hydro-units, as well as grid connection equipment, have undergone all the pre-launch tests. All the trials of the generating and transmission equipment were supervised by the Federal Service of environmental, technological and nuclear supervision (Rostechnadzor), experts of Power Machines that manufactured major generating equipment for the plant, Federal Grid Company, System Operator and the local government officials.

The construction of the dam and the power plant started in 1980 and should have been completed in 12 years, but the end date was postponed several times. For many years, the state provided funds sufficient only for maintenance of the unfinished project. Construction resumed in May 2006 after RUSAL and RusHydro had signed an agreement on the joint development of the Boguchanskoye Energy and Metals Complex (BEMO). The BEMO project provided: completion of the hydroelectric plant and building a nearby aluminum smelter, which would off-take considerable amount of electricity produced by the power plant.

Bу the end of 2011, the dam was fully prepared for the filling of the reservoir, which started in May 2012. In August 2012, the first hydro-turbines have been installed, and the power plant proceeded with the first pre-launch trials of the equipment.

Currently, three hydro-units are ready for the launch into operation. By the end of 2012, Boguchanskaya hydropower plant will have finished the trials of the three more units. In 2013, the station will be put in full operation and its capacity will reach 3,000 MW.

Commenting the launch, UC RUSAL CEO Oleg Deripaska said: “The first two turbines of the Boguchansk hydro power plant were successfully launched today. Full capacity is expected to be reached in 2013, when the satellite Boguchansk aluminium smelter will produce its first metal. At full capacity the smelter will consume 9.8 billion kWt/h of electricity per annum. The LEP-500 power transmission line to the smelter has already been constructed and installation of the first 168 pot cells of the pot room #1 is underway. On reaching full capacity the smelter will produce 600,000 tonnes of primary aluminium per annum.

The BEMO project is a shining example of the business management in energy and aluminium industries, where aluminium producer and energy producer cooperate and work side-by-side to ensure a successful outcome. BEMO will boost not only the Company’s core businesses but the whole economy of Siberia. Overall, taking all its phases, BEMO project is expected to create more than 10,000 new jobs. ”

The Boguchanskaya hydropower plant is the cornerstone of the public investment project “Development of the Lower Angara region”. The project will ensure the reliable power supply for the energy system of Siberia and foster further development of natural resources of the northern part of the Krasnoyarsk Region through private investment.

The Boguchanskaya hydropower plant will be one of the most state-of-the-art large hydropower plants in Russia. The hydropower plant will comprise 9 hydropower units. The capacity of each unit is 333 MW. These are the largest hydro-units manufactured in Russia in recent years. Reliability and safety of operations were seen as the highest priority during plant construction. Numerous innovative solutions aimed at preventing breakdowns and accidents have been introduced at the power station. The dam comprises two spillways. They are capable of withstanding and handling extreme floods, which, according to experts, could happen once in ten thousand years. The spillways are capable of handling extreme floods even in cases when all hydro-units are non-operational. The reserve spillway has a unique design feature: it is structured in the form of a staircase that is supplemented by a toe basin. This engineering solution allows to dampen the energy of falling water and to prevent river bed erosion. This solution is common for foreign hydro-engineering, but was implemented for the first time in Russia.

After its full launch the Boguchanskaya hydropower plant will in the top 5 of the largest Russian hydroelectric stations.