Environmental prosecutors in Russia’s Irkutsk region have identified technical and ecological violations at the Ust-Ilimsk hydroelectric power station on the Angara River. Following the investigation, the facility operator has initiated restoration work and secured the required permits for activities within the reservoir’s protected zone.
The inspection determined that equipment maintenance at the plant deviated from industrial regulations. Authorities documented technical oil leaks and structural damage, noting that mandatory hydraulic testing and inspections of high-risk units were incomplete. Furthermore, the station’s emergency response protocols for staff were found to be non-compliant with national standards.
Regulators also cited unauthorized construction along the shoreline of the Ust-Ilimsk reservoir. The installation of berthing facilities proceeded without approval from Rosrybolovstvo, the federal fisheries agency, which constitutes a breach of rules protecting aquatic biological resources.
The operating company was held liable under three articles of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses, resulting in fines totaling 35,000 rubles – approximately 380 dollars. The operator has since adopted a formal plan to rectify the technical defects and has regularized the status of the shoreline structures. Supervisory authorities continue to monitor the progress of the corrective measures.
