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Artificial reservoir is over 300 kilometers long
The Sayano-Shushenskoye reservoir, formed upstream of the dam, extends over an area of approximately 621 square kilometers and stretches for more than 300 kilometers.
Its volume is equivalent to 31.3 billion cubic meters of water, which is used to regulate the flow of the Yenisei River and generate electricity.
The reservoir also plays a crucial role in flood control, irrigation, and water supply for nearby regions.
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Accident in 2009 led to a review of safety standards
In August 2009, a catastrophic accident occurred at the power plant, resulting in the death of 75 people and significant damage to the facility.
The incident was caused by a sudden surge of water that destroyed one of the turbines, leading to flooding in the turbine hall.
The disaster prompted a comprehensive review of hydropower safety standards in Russia, with a focus on improving monitoring systems and emergency response protocols.
Repairs and upgrades were carried out over several years, and the plant resumed full operation in 2014.
Artificial reservoir is over 300 kilometers long
Behind the dam, the Sayano-Shushenskoye reservoir was formed, stretching over 300 kilometers along the Yenisei Valley.
In addition to supplying water to the turbines, the artificial lake participates in the regulation of the river’s seasonal flows, especially during spring thaw and periods of lower flow.
At the base of the dam, the powerhouse houses ten generating units of 640 megawatts each, connected to the regional electrical system.
The rotors, weighing about 920 tons, required assembly with a high degree of precision, as alignment failures could cause vibrations, loss of efficiency, and damage to the equipment.
2009 accident left 75 dead at the plant
On August 17, 2009, the plant recorded one of the most severe hydroelectric accidents of the 21st century, according to technical records and official reports released after the episode.
Unit 2 was destroyed after failures associated with the fixation of the turbine cover, which caused flooding in the machine room and left 75 dead.
Despite the damage in the generation area, the dam did not collapse and continued to contain the reservoir formed by the Yenisei River.
The accident mainly affected the electromechanical equipment and led Russia to begin the reconstruction of the plant, with turbine replacement, control modernization, and installation of new sensors.
Reconstruction modernized the safety of Sayano-Shushenskaya
The recovery was completed in 2014, when the last rebuilt unit returned to operation connected to the power grid.
Since then, Sayano-Shushenskaya remains a relevant asset for the Siberian electrical system and for industrial sectors that depend on a large volume of energy, including aluminum production.
More than half a century after the start of construction, the hydroelectric plant remains associated with the scale of Soviet megaprojects and the challenges of operating critical infrastructures over long periods.
Its trajectory combines industrial demand, energy utilization of the Yenisei River, and changes adopted after the 2009 accident in maintenance, monitoring, and safety systems.
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