Energy crisis at Krasnoyarks Aluminium resolved in favour of plant, not people

The Krasnoyarsk Aluminium Plant, or KrAZ (one of the world’s largest aluminium producers) keeps on operating in its usual mode, sources in the Krasnoyarsk Territory’s administration say. Power officials have limited power supply to the plant’s administrative buildings and social infrastructure installations, instead. Earlier, court ruled not to touch the plant’s production facilities, so the blackout will only affect people, not production. In the meantime, a row over the plant’s alleged debt to the Krasnoyarskenergo power utility (affiliated to the RAO UES) is not abating. Power officials threatened to switch off several pot lines at the plant. On May 4th, one switching-off did occur. Then the local radio announced that, as a result of gas-cleaning equipment stoppage, massive emission of harmful substances into the city’s atmosphere began, including fluorine, sulphur dioxide, benzapilene, various resins, and dust. Cutting energy supply to KrAZ would be tantamount to a catastrophe, anyhow. The plant consumes over half of power generated in the territory and, according to the plant’s managers, duly pays hard currency to the local and federal budget. Switching the plant off would inflict an irreversible damage to the equipment, while KrAZ remains the biggest employer and currency earner in the region. So, the court of ruled not to cut power supply to the plant while the litigation is on.