Planned inspection of readiness for operations in the 2009-2010 autumn-winter period has begun at JSC RusHydro generating facilities. The first to receive readiness certificates were JSC RusHydro branch Bureyskaya HPP and JSC RusHydro affiliate JSC Kolymaenergo, which underwent inspections from 21 to 25 September 2009. Inspections began at the Volzhskaya and Nizhegorodskaya HPPs on 28 September 2009.

The inspections cover a study of the technical condition of the units, diagnosis of equipment bearing the maximum autumn-winter loading, and assessment of the quality and completeness of the measures undertaken at the HPP to prepare personnel for working during the autumn-winter period.

The commission for inspecting the hydro-electric power stations is led by the heads of the “Production” Business Unit subdivisions of JSC RusHydro and its members include representatives of the inter-regional administrations of the Ministry of Power of the Russian Federation, territorial administrations of the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision, the regional dispatch division of JSC SO UES, as well as heads of hydro-electric power stations.

The inspections will embrace 19 branches and 3 subsidiary and dependent companies of JSC RusHydro. The final stage in the preparations for the autumn-winter period consists in a check of JSC RusHydro by the commission under the chairmanship of a representative of the Ministry of Power of the Russian Federation and consisting of specialists from the central administration of the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision, JSC SO UES and JSC RusHydro. The commission will be working from 9 to 13 November 2009.

The most important principle for operation of the hydro-electric facilities belonging to JSC RusHydro is to ensure their technical and environmental safety and systemic reliability. JSC RusHydro pursues this principle at all stages in the life cycle of HPP assets. This is confirmed by state supervisory authorities when they subject design documentation to expert examination, issue permits for start-up, declare the safety of hydro-engineering structures and issue licences for operation of hazardous industrial facilities.

JSC RusHydro will not accept compromises with respect to the reliability of equipment and safety of hydro-engineering structures. For this reason, measures designed to maximise reliability and safety of existing assets, with increased efficiency through risk mitigation, are the priority irrespective of the situation on the market.