Irkutskenergo's Irkutsk HPP halts hydroelectric units more than 40 minutes owing to earthquake
MOSCOW. Jan 12 (Interfax) - The Irkutsk hydro-electric power plant (HPP) of Irkutskenergo earlier today shut down its hydropower units for more than 40 minutes owing to a strong earthquake with its epicenter in Mongolia.
"The standard safety system for vibration control was activated at the Irkutsk HPP. Following an inspection by personnel and confirmation of safe operation, restoration of the operating mode began at 5:45 am [local time], 12:45 am Moscow time. At 6:27 am [local time], 1:27 am Moscow time, the hydroelectric units were activated," the press service of Eurosibenergo-Hydrogeneratsiya LLC [which manages the HPP under a lease agreement with Irkutskenergo] told Interfax.
According to a company representative, no damage or malfunctions were found following the inspection of the equipment, buildings, and structures of the HPP.
The Irkutsk, Bratsk, and Ust-Ilimsk HPPs of Irkutskenergo are now operating normally, the power company said.
As previously reported, on January 12 at 12:32 am Moscow time, an earthquake with an energy class of 15.2 and a magnitude of 6.8 occurred at Lake Khubsugul, Mongolia. Irkutsk experienced the earthquake at a level of five points, and Buryatia felt it at up to six points. Later, the Baikal branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences recorded about 10 more tremors in Mongolia. Russia's Krasnoyarsk Territory, Tomsk Region, as well as Tuva and Khakassia also experienced shocks from the earthquake.