15 Sep 2009 16:42

Putin:

MOSCOW. Sept 15 (Interfax) - The "technological culture" of Russian production is unacceptably low, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in opening remarks at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

"The recent tragedy at the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydroelectric Station, the accident, reminds us with all clarity how important it is to pay thorough attention to power generation safety. And in the broader view, to the questions of the technological culture of production overall. For now unfortunately, ours is unacceptably low," he said.

The price of that low level "must be paid not only in money but, unfortunately, in human lives," Putin said.

The August 17 accident at the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydropower plant killed 73 people.

"Everyone connected with the construction and operation of such unique facilities must take away the necessary conclusions from that event," Putin said.