OREANDA-NEWS. September 26, 2011. JSC RusHydro (ticker symbol: RTS, MICEX, LSE: HYDR; OTCQX: RSHYY) announces an important milestone in the construction of the Ust'-Srednekanskaya hydropower plant (HPP) in the Magadan region - the damming of the Kolyma river. The final stage of this process has been witnessed by more than a thousand people from different parts of the country.

Ust'-Srednekanskaya HPP under construction will be the second station in the Kolyma cascade. It is situated 9 km from the entry of the Srednekan river, falling in the Kolyma river. The construction started in 1991. The total installed capacity is 570 MW - 4 hydro-units of 142.5 MW each.

The commissioning of the first stage construction stage of 169 MW is scheduled for the 4th quarter 2012. The first stage includes the construction of hydrotechnical facilities to the elevation of 260 meters (level of the lower pool - 231-234 meters depending on hydrological conditions) and launch of two Francis turbines with temporary runner blades.

After completion all the facilities of the plant will include composite-type rock-fill dam, concrete spillway, station and blind dams and plant facility. The total length of the waterfront will be 2.5 km. Ust'-Srednekansk reservoir will have the surface of 265 sq km, full and useful capacity of 5.4 and 2.6 cubic km respectively. Not a single populated territory lies in the inundation area.

Currently, installation of first hydro-units is underway at Ust'-Srednekanskaya hydropower plant. By the end of the year installation of ancillary equipment will start. The completion rate for concrete facilities now stands at 93%.

The power plant will be the major supplier of electricity for Natalka gold deposit - one of the largest in Russia. The subsidiary of Polyus Gold - Matrosov gold mine - will start operations already in 2012.